Guide To Rural England - Northumberland

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F stories and anecdotes G famous people H art and craft I entertainment and sport J walks
A historic building B museum and heritage C historic site D scenic attraction E flora and fauna
Looking for somewhere to stay, eat, drink or shop? www.findsomewhere.co.uk
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Red Row
Widdrington
Longhorsley
Longframlington
Felton
Rothbury
Hepple
Blanchland
Edmundbyers
Garrigill
Nenthead
Wark
Chollerford
Rochester
Belsay
Greenhead
Elsdon
Allendale
Town
Kielder
Wall
Bellingham
Stannersburn
Rookhope
Cumrew
Haltwhistle
Saughtree
Morebattle
Gordon
Roxburgh
Rutherford
Oxnam
Campdown
Chesters
Hownam
Ancrum
St Boswells Kirk Yetholm
Town Yetholm
Greenlaw
Denholm
Minto
Melrose
Longformacus
Duns
Polwarth
Allanton
Eccles
Legars
Swinton
Smailholm
Preston
Chirnside
Norham
Wark
Downham
Lowick
Ford
Duddo
Leitholm
Holy Island
Bamburgh
Seahouses
Beadnell
Embleton
Longhoughton
Alnmouth
Warkworth
Eglingham
Carter
Bar
Chatton
Doddington
Kirknewton
Ancroft
Glanton
Powburn
Alwinton
Belford
Heugh
Colwell
Whalton
Ellington
Stanfordham
Humshaugh
Ulgham
Helm
Acklington
Troughend
West
Woodburn
Ewesley
Cambo
Edlington
Gilsland
Ramshope
Hartburn
Kirkcambeck
Allenheads
Knarsdale
Halton
Lea Gate
Whitfield
Langley
Catton
Fenwick
Akeld
Lucker
Kilham
Beal
Otterburn
Alston
Cramlington
Coldstream
Hetton
-le-Hole
Great
Lumley
Castleside
Leadgate
Lanchester
Dudley
Blaydon
Haswell
Hexham
Brampton
Chester-le-
Street
Bedlington
Ashington
Corbridge
Jedburgh
Kelso
Alnwick
Amble
Birtley
Prudhoe
Seaton
Delaval
Darras
Hall
Burnopfield
Consett
Ponteland
Durham
Morpeth
Blyth
Jarrow
Whitley Bay
Stanley
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Gateshead
Washington
NEWCASTLE
LOCATOR MAP
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Stretching from the edge of the Cheviots to
the east coast, and from Berwick-upon-Tweed
in the north to the River Blyth in the south,
east Northumberland is an area of quiet
villages and small market towns, majestic
castles and what many people consider to be
the finest coastline in England. Designated as
the North Northumberland Heritage Coast,
the area boasts a wealth of historical
attractions such as Bamburgh Castle,
Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands.
For all its beauty, its a quiet coastline, and
you can walk for miles along the dunes and
beaches without meeting another soul. No
deck chairs or noisy ice cream vans here just
a quietness broken occasionally by the
screeching of gulls. Coquet Island is a
renowned bird sanctuary where the visitor can
see puffins, roseate terns, razorbills,
cormorants and eiders.
Lindisfarne, a small island lying between
Bamburgh and Berwick, is perhaps the most
evocative place of all on the coast. It was to
here that St Aidan and a small community of
Irish monks came from Iona in AD635 to
found a monastery from which missionaries
Northumberland
Allendale pg 40
Allenheads pg 40
Alnmouth pg 18
Alnwick pg 15
Amble pg 19
Ashington pg 25
Aydon pg 36
Bamburgh pg 11
Bardon Mill pg 37
Barrasford pg 36
Beadnell pg 22
Bedlington pg 27
Belford pg 13
Bellingham pg 45
Belsay pg 27
Berwick-upon-Tweed pg 5
Blanchland pg 40
Blyth pg 28
Branxton pg 49
Chathill pg 22
Chillingham pg 23
Chollerford pg 36
Chollerton pg 36
Corbridge pg 33
Craster pg 21
Towns and Villages
Druridge Bay pg 21
Duddo pg 9
Edlingham pg 23
Eglingham pg 23
Ellingham pg 22
Elsdon pg 42
Embleton pg 21
Etal pg 14
Fallodon pg 23
Farne Islands pg 13
Ford pg 14
Hadrians Wall pg 29
Hadrians Wall Path pg 30
Haltwhistle pg 38
Heatherslaw pg 15
Hepple pg 43
Hexham pg 30
Holy Island pg 9
Horncliffe pg 8
Kielder pg 46
Kirkharle pg 26
Kirknewton pg 48
Langley pg 37
Lesbury pg 17
Lindisfarne pg 9
Longframlington pg 24
Longhorsley pg 26
Lowick pg 9
Mickley Square pg 29
Morpeth pg 24
Newbiggin by the Sea pg 26
Norham pg 8
Otterburn pg 41
Ponteland pg 28
Prudhoe pg 28
Rothbury pg 43
Seahouses pg 22
Slaley pg 40
Tillmouth pg 9
Tweedmouth pg 8
Waren Mill pg 13
Wark pg 45
Warkworth pg 18
Weldon Bridge pg 45
Woodhorn pg 25
Wooler pg 47
Wooperton pg 48
Yeavering pg 49
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set out to convert northern England
to Christianity.
The region has withstood a
tempestuous past and has been the
focus of fierce fighting, nowhere
more so than the border town of
Berwick, whose strategic location
made it a prime target in the endless
skirmishes between the English and
the Scots. The Border Reivers, or
mosstroopers, rustled, pillaged and
fought among themselves, incurring
the wrath of both English and
Scottish kings. All along the coastline can be
seen superb castles such as those of Norham,
Etal, Chillingham and Edlingham. Some have
been converted into grand mansions for the
great families of the area, while others are now
no more than ruins.
Inland from the coast the land is heavily
farmed, and there is a pleasant landscape of
fields, woodland, country lanes and farms. The
villages, with their ancient parish churches and
village greens, are especially fine. When the
Scots constantly harried this area the village
green was essential as it was here the villagers
guarded their cattle after bringing them in
from the surrounding land.
The area to the south east around
Ashington was once coalmining country,
though the scars are gradually being swept
away. The industry is remembered in a
museum of mining at Woodhorn. Even here,
however, an earlier history is evident, as the
former Woodhorn church is one of the most
interesting in Northumberland.
Legacies of the past can be explored at
Segedunum Roman fort, Wallsend - so called
because this was where Hadrians Wall ended.
It is now the beginning - or end - of the
Hadrians Wall Path National Trail.
West Northumberland, where the North
Pennines blend into the Cheviots, is an
exhilarating mixture of bleak grandeur, beauty
and history. Stretching north towards the
Scottish border, are the 398 square miles of
the Northumbrian National Park and the
Kielder Forest Park. The forest covers 200
square miles and contains Europes largest
man-made lake, Kielder Water, opened by the
Queen in 1982. To the south is Hadrians Wall,
that monumental feat of Roman civil
engineering built on the orders of Emperor
Hadrian in AD122. The best known Roman
monument in Britain and the best known
Roman frontier in Europe, it stretches for
some 70 miles from Wallsend in the east to
Bowness-on-Solway in the west, and in 1987
was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To see the Wall twisting across the moorland is
an awe-inspiring sight, and no visitor to
Northumberland should miss it. Towards the
east of the area, the hills slope down towards a
stretch of fertile land with little towns like
Rothbury and Wooler, which in themselves
deserve exploration. But up on the high
ground a person could walk for miles without
meeting another soul. The highest point, at
2,650 feet, is The Cheviot itself, a few miles
from the Scottish border.
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The Countr y Li vi ng Gui de to Rural Engl and - Northumberl and
Bamburgh Castle
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Berwick-upon-Tweed
A Barracks A Bridges A Town Hall
A Holy Trinity Church B Museums
B Lifeboat Station C Berwick Castle
Berwick-upon-Tweed is one of Englands
most beguiling towns. It is unique in being
completely encircled by an Elizabethan town
wall, which can still be walked along, the
1.5 mile circuit providing fine views of the
town and the Northumberland coastline. The
River Tweed serves as the border between
Scotland and Northumberland along much of
its length, but a few miles to the west of
Berwick, the border takes a curious lurch
north, and curls up and over the town to the
east before reaching the coast. So, while
Berwick is on the north bank of the Tweed,
its well and truly within Northumberland.
For centuries, this former Royal burgh of
Scotland was fought over by the Scots and
the English, and changed hands no less than
14 times until it finally became part of
England in 1482. But even now, Scotland
exerts a great influence. The local football
team, Berwick Rangers, plays in the Scottish
League, and in 1958 the Lord Lyon, who
decides on all matters armorial in Scotland,
granted the town a coat-of-arms the only
instance of armorial bearings being granted
in Scotland for use in England.
But for many years after becoming
English, the town was a curious anomaly. In
the 16th century Berwick was declared a
free burgh, neither in Scotland nor in
England, a situation that lasted right up until
1885. Its ambiguous status was such that
when war was declared on Russia in 1853, it
was done in the name of Victoria, Queen of
Great Britain, Ireland, Berwick-upon-Tweed
and all the British Dominions. When peace
was announced in 1856, no mention was
made of Berwick. So technically, the town
remained at war with Russia.
The situation was rectified in 1966, when a
Soviet official made a goodwill visit to the
town and a peace treaty was signed. During
the ceremony, the Berwick mayor told the
Soviet official that the people of Russia could
at last sleep easy in their beds.
Berwicks original medieval walls were built in
the 13th century by Edward I. They were
subsequently strengthened by Robert the Bruce
when he recaptured the town in 1318, and
finally rebuilt by Italian engineers at the bequest
of Elizabeth I between 1558 and 1569, though
the work was never completed. They are
regarded as being the finest preserved
fortifications of their time in Europe.
Berwicks strategic location led it to
become an important military town. For
many years the garrison soldiers were billeted
in local taverns and private houses, but this
placed a heavy financial burden on the
townspeople. Complaints to the government
led to the building of Berwick Barracks
between 1717 and 1721. Designed by
Nicholas Hawksmoor, they were the first
purpose-built barracks in Britain, and within
them youll find the Kings Own Scottish
Borderers Museum. Here visitors will learn
about a Scottish regiment that was raised in
1689 by the Earl of Leven in a crisis measure
for the defence of Edinburgh against the
Jacobites. Recruitment took place by beat of
drum along the Royal Mile and in just two
hours sufficient men were recruited to join
the Earl to protect the city. In 2006 the
Regiment became part of the Royal Regiment
of Scotland.
Housed in the clock tower of the barracks
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CELTIC CRAFTS
Marygate, Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed,
Northumberland TD15 2SJ
Tel: 01289 389033
e-mail: info@celticcrafts.uk.com
website: www.celticcrafts.uk.com
For anyone who appreciates the intricate, beautiful and
unique designs of the Celtic tradition they will find
Celtic Crafts on Holy Island an undiluted delight.
Housed in one of the oldest buildings on the island
(dating from 1606), it is an attractive outlet for items
of Celtic inspiration, including jewellery, goblets and
chalices, glassware and china, designer knitwear and
other goods sourced from small workshops throughout
the British Isles. The jewellery range includes a superb
collection of engagement and wedding rings in gold,
silver or platinum, some set with precious or semi-
precious stones. Many of the pieces are inspired by the
Lindisfarne Gospels, dating from the 7th century. Some
are exclusive to Celtic Crafts, notably the St Cuthbert
Cross in silver or gold, with a garnet in the middle.
More familiar items include books, postcards, CDs, T-
shirts.and the famous and very moreish creamy
fudge. Above the retail outlets are two floors of comfortable, stylish holiday accommodation, with
two bedrooms directly above and a modern kitchen and
living area on the top floor.
PILGRIMS COFFEE HOUSE
Falkland House, Marygate, Holy Island,
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland TD15 2SJ
Tel: 01289 389109
website: www.pilgrimscoffee.com
The pilgrimage ends here folks
Set on the idyllic island of Lindisfarne, Pilgrims Coffee
House offers a unique coffee experience. Highly trained
baristas will create some of the best coffee you will ever
taste; complimented by scrumptious homemade cakes
and scones. Try a Gingerbread Latte and a giant slice of
Carrot cake. Indulge in gifts for all the family with our
Pilgrims range. Enjoy our warm friendly atmosphere
inside, or relax in the tranquillity of our walled garden
outside.
Pilgirms has recently finished a mobile coffee van
that will refresh tourists where other places cannot.
The van will be in the Pilgrims colours so keep an eye
out if you are walking on the island.
Believe us; Pilgrims is worth missing the tide for!
Visitors to the craft shop and coffee house should remember that Holy Island is tidal!
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is the Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough
Museum and Art Gallery, which explores the
history of the town and of infantry men and
regiments down the centuries in the By Beat
of Drum exhibition. The museum also
contains a remarkable collection given to the
town by Sir William Burrell, who lived in
nearby Hutton Castle. Famous for collecting
the works of art that can now be seen in the
Burrell Art Gallery in Glasgow, Burrell also
donated 300 works of art, sculpture and
pottery to Berwick. In the same location, the
Gymnasium Gallery, opened in 1993, is a
leading venue for contemporary art and artists
of the region.
Berwicks Bridge Street is being promoted as
the best shopping street in North
Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. It is
home to a number of specialist shops
basically a collection of businesses whose
owners have a real passion for what they do and
a real interest in their customers. A visitor from
London described it as the Covent Garden of
the North and decided to stay another day in
the town after discovering the street.
Three distinctive bridges linking the town
centre with the communities of Tweedmouth
and Spittal span the Tweed estuary. The
oldest of these is the 17th-century Berwick
Bridge, a handsome stone bridge with
15 arches, completed in 1626. The
Royal Tweed Bridge is the most
modern, having been completed in 1928
with a concrete structure built to an
iron bridge design. The enormous 126
feet high, 28-arch Royal Border
Bridge, carrying the East Coast
mainline railway, was built between 1847
and 1850 by Robert Stephenson.
The Berwick skyline is dominated by
the imposing Town Hall with its clock
tower and steeple that rise to 150 feet, and
which is often mistaken for a church. Built
between 1754 and 1761, this fine building has
a faade as elaborate as its well-documented
history. From the lofty steeples bell chamber
a curfew still rings out each evening at 8pm.
On the ground floor, markets were held in
the Exchange and shops and cells existed
where now a gift shop and coffee house
stand. Guided tours in the summer enable
visitors to explore the upper storeys, where
there are civic rooms and the former town
gaol. A small Cell Block Museum is also
located there.
Facing Berwick Barracks is Holy Trinity
Church one of the few Commonwealth
churches in England. It was built between
1650 and 1652, during the Commonwealth of
Oliver Cromwell, to replace a dilapidated
medieval church that stood on the same site.
On the northwest side of the town you will
find all that remains of Berwick Castle. Built
in the 13th century, it was demolished in 1850
to make way for the railway station, and the
platform now occupies the site of the former
Great Hall. The ruins are in the care of
English Heritage.
The Lifeboat Station at Berwick is open
for visits every day from 9am to 5pm.
Royal Border Bridge, Berwick-upon-Tweed
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Around Berwick-upon-
Tweed
TWEEDMOUTH
1 mile S of Berwick off the A1
Tweedmouth and Spittal, on the English side
of the Tweed estuary, are largely suburbs of
Berwick. In mid-July a ceremony is held,
dating back to 1292, to celebrate the fact that
the River Tweed, one of the best salmon rivers
in Britain, reaches the sea here. The local
schools hold a ballot to elect a Salmon Queen,
and her crowning marks the beginning of
Feast Week, which centres round a church
service and involves lots of festivities,
including a traditional salmon supper.
HORNCLIFFE
4 miles W of Berwick off the A698
A Union Suspension Bridge
The village of Horncliffe, five miles upstream
of Berwick, can only be reached by one road
that leads into and out of the village, making it
feel rather remote. Many visitors are unaware
of the existence of the river, but there is
nothing more pleasant than wandering down
on a summers evening one of the paths
leading to the banks to watch the
salmon fishermen.
Not far from the village the
River Tweed is spanned by the
Union Suspension Bridge linking
Scotland and England. It was built
in 1820 by Sir Samuel Browne who
also invented the wrought-iron
chain links used in its construction.
The graceful structure, 480 feet
long, was Britains first major
suspension bridge to carry
vehicular traffic, and although not
carrying a major road, it is still possible to
drive over it.
NORHAM
6 miles SW of Berwick on the B6470
B Station Museum C Norham Castle
F Blessing of the Nets
Norham is a neat, historical village that sits on
the banks of the Tweed. Up until 1836, the
town was an enclave of the County Palatinate
of Durham, surrounded by Northumberland
on the south, east and west, and Scotland on
the north. Norham Castle (English Heritage)
was built in the 12th century by the Bishop of
Durham and stands on a site of great natural
strength, guarding a natural ford over the river.
It withstood repeated attacks in the 13th and
14th centuries and was thought to be
impregnable. However, in 1513 it was stormed
by the forces of James IV on his way to
Flodden and partially destroyed.
Although it was later rebuilt, the castle was
again destroyed by the Scots in 1530, and had
lost its importance as a defensive stronghold
by the end of the 16th century.
Norhams Station Museum is located on the
former Tweedmouth to Kelso branch line. The
museum features the station site, original signal
Norham Castle
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box, booking office, porters
room, coal cells, lime cells and a
model railway.
Each year in Norham an
unusual ceremony takes place.
The Blessing of the Nets is
held at midnight on 13 February
to mark the beginning of the
salmon fishing season. The
service is held by lantern light
on Pedham Beach, with the
clergyman standing in a boat in
the middle of the river.
DUDDO
7 miles SW of Berwick on the B6354
C Duddo Stones
Close to the village are the Duddo Stones,
one of Northumberlands most important
ancient monuments. This ancient stone circle,
which now consists of five upright stones
more than seven feet high, dates back to
around 2000BC. The stones stand on private
ground and can only be reached from the
village by foot.
TILLMOUTH
9 miles SW of Berwick on the A698
C Twizel Castle C St Cuthberts Chapel
The village of Tillmouth lies along the banks
of the River Till, a tributary of the Tweed,
which is crossed by the 15th-century Twizel
Bridge, although a more modern structure
now carries the A698 over the river. Up until
the building of the 1727 Causey Arch in
County Durham, the old Twizel Bridge, with a
span of 90 feet, had the largest span of any
bridge in Britain. There are some lovely walks
here and a well-signed footpath leads to the
ruins of Twizel Castle and the remains of St
Cuthberts Chapel on the opposite bank,
dating from the 18th or 19th century, but
incorporating some medieval stonework.
LOWICK
8 miles S of Berwick on the B6353
Lowick is a quiet farming community that
contains only a few shops and a couple of
pubs. About a mile east of the village are the
earthworks of a former castle. The Norman
church was replaced by the present St John the
Baptist Church.
LINDISFARNE OR HOLY ISLAND
10 miles SE of Berwick off the A1
A Priory and Castle F Lindisfarne Gospels
J Pilgrims Way J St Cuthberts Way
Northumberlands northern coastline is
dominated by Holy Island, also known by its
Celtic name of Lindisfarne. The island is
accessible only at low tide, via a three-mile
long causeway linking it with the mainland at
Beal. Tide tables are published locally and are
displayed at each end of the road. There are
refuges part way along for those who fail to
time it correctly.
As you cross, note the 11th-century
Pilgrims Way, marked by stakes, still visible
Duddo Stone Circle
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about 200 metres south of the modern
causeway. This route was in use until
comparatively recent times.
The island was given to St Aidan in AD635
by Oswald, King of Northumbria. St Aidan
and his small community of Irish monks
came from Iona to found a base from which
to convert northern England to Christianity -
hence the island being called one of the
cradles of English Christianity. St Cuthbert
came here to teach and the island became a
magnet for pilgrims. When he died in AD687
he was buried in the church. St Cuthberts
island can be reached at low tide from the
island and was used by the saint during times
of solitude. A cross marks the site of his tiny
chapel.
These early monks are also remembered for
producing some of the finest surviving
examples of Celtic art the richly decorated
Lindisfarne Gospels, dating from the
7th century. When the island was invaded by
Vikings in the 9th century, the monks fled
taking their precious gospels with them. These
have, miraculously, survived and are now in
the safety of the British Museum. Facsimiles
are kept on Lindisfarne and can be seen in the
12th-century parish church on the island. The
monks also took with them St Cuthberts
bones, and wandered around for over 100
years before eventually finding a safe resting
place for them in Durham.
During the 11th century a group of
Benedictine monks settled here. The ruins of
their great sandstone Lindisfarne Priory with
its Romanesque-style great pillars can still be
explored. The Priory is one of the holiest
Anglo-Saxon sights in England; crossing the
dramatic causeway to Holy Island, you journey
into a significant site of Britains spiritual
heritage. Few places are as beautiful or have
such special significance. When St Cuthberts
corpse was found undecayed in AD698, the
Priory became one of the most sacred shrines
in Christendom. For over 1,300 years it has
been a place of pilgrimage, and remains so
today. Here you can learn about the
monasterys fantastic wealth, and walk in the
grounds where Viking raiders plundered the
Priory, forcing the monks to find refuge on
the mainland. One recent addition is a
sculpture entitled Cuthbert of Farne, created
by local artist Fenwick Lawson and depicting a
contemplative Cuthbert, hands folded in
prayer. The Museum displays are lively and
atmospheric, and explain what life was like
more than a millennium ago. The Priory is
open daily except for Christmas and New
Year. Lindisfarne Castle (National Trust) was
established in Tudor times as yet another
fortification to protect the exposed flank of
Northumbria from invasion by the Scots. In
1902 it was bought by Edward Hudson, a
magazine publisher, who employed the great
Edwardian architect Sir Edward Lutyens to
rebuild and restore it as a private house. The
house and its small walled garden are open to
the public during the summer months.
Holy Island village is a community of
around 170 people who work mainly in
farming and the tourist trade. Some are also
employed in the islands distillery, noted for
excellent traditional mead, which can be
purchased locally. Much of the island is also a
nature reserve, with wildflowers and a wide
variety of seabirds. St Marys Church in the
village has some fine Saxon stonework above
the chancel arch.
The island is the finishing point for the
62-mile St Cuthberts Way, a long-distance
footpath that opened in 1996. The trail begins
at Melrose, across the Scottish border, and
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along the way passes through the
Northumberland National Park and the
Cheviot Hills.
BAMBURGH
16 miles SE of Berwick on the B1340
A Castle B Grace Darling Museum
E Farne Islands G Longstone Lighthouse
King Idas Castle huge and square was Sir
Walter Scotts description of Bamburgh
Castle, a magnificent structure aggressively
perched on a rocky outcrop 150 feet above
the North Sea strand, dominating the
Northumbrian landscape. Sir Walter was
thinking of the Saxon king, Ida the Flame-
Bearer, who built the first fortress here in
AD547. Idas grandson, Ethelfrith the
Destroyer, gave the settlement to his wife,
Bebba, from whom the castle derives its
name Bebban-burgh. King Idas castle was
built of wood. It was the Normans who
erected the mighty red sandstone keep that
still dominates the battlemented courtyards
today. Bamburgh is epic in scale, even by the
standards of this coastline and its abundance
of spectacular castles.
The present stone castle sprawls across
eight acres and its 10-foot thick walls were
crucial in repulsing many attacks in the lawless
days of medieval Northumbria. But, by the
time of the Wars of the Roses, even those
sturdy walls could not withstand Edward IVs
new-fangled cannon. Bamburgh became the
first English castle to succumb to artillery fire.
By the late 1500s, much of the castle stood
in ruins. Various attempts were made over
succeeding centuries to rehabilitate the vast
building most notably in the early 1700s
BLACKETTS OF BAMBURGH
1 Lucker Road, Bamburgh,
Northumberland, NE69 7BS
Tel: 01668 214252
e-mail: swearmanblackett@aol.com
Blacketts of Bamburgh is a veritable
treasure trove of gifts with a difference.
Owner Sue Swearman searches far and
wide for her stock, always looking for
interesting items that you probably wont find anywhere else. Behind the
small-paned shop window shoppers will enter a browsers delight, whether
theyre looking for a personal treat, a gift for any occasion Sue offers a wedding list service or
a souvenir of a visit to this beautiful and fascinating part of the world.
Many of the gifts take their theme from the town and region, notably models in wood and
pottery of boats and lighthouses (Grace Darling was born in Bamburgh and theres a museum
recalling her heroic deeds), also encompassing a variety of home accessories for living and giving
on a nautical theme. Wildlife features also, including puffins and seals hand carved from
sustainable woods, stone garden animals and more. Top brands to be found include home and
lifestyle china by Emma Bridgewater and Susie Watson designs, Jellycat toys and Seagems Celtic-
inspired contemporary jewellery.
Customers say that at Blacketts you will find the best selection of greetings cards in the area,
featuring a diverse cross-section of artists. There are prints and postcards, fridge magnets, scented
candles, baskets and trugs. Edible souvenirs include own-label james and chutneys, fudge and
rapeseed oil made from the harvest of local fields. Blacketts is open daily between Easter and
October and at weekends out of season.
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when the philanthropist Dr John Sharp
repaired and rendered habitable the gret
Norman square tower, set up a Charity
School where 20 poor maidens were lodged,
clothed and educated till they be fit for
service, opened a free surgery and dispensary
for local people, and provided free
accommodation in the castles many gloomy
chambers for sailors who had been
shipwrecked off this notoriously dangerous
stretch of coast.
The castles most significant benefactor
was William George, 1st Lord Armstrong,
the very model of a Victorian self-made
millionaire. A solicitor-turned-engineer, he
amassed a huge fortune from his inventive
improvements of hydraulic engines,
armaments and shipbuilding. He devoted a
large part of his immense wealth to building
a spectacular mansion, Cragside, near
Rothbury; then spent another considerable
fortune on restoring Bamburgh Castle. The
castle became his passion and, in the 1890s,
he began an ambitious programme of
renovation and refurbishment. Lord
Armstrong commissioned the fashionable
London architect Charles Ferguson to
re-create a medieval castle that also
incorporated all the latest Victorian state-of-
the-art amenities. At the time, Fergusons
lavish restoration offended medieval purists
they preferred Norman ruins. Today, you
cant help but be impressed by the
impeccable craftsmanship. Bamburgh Castle
is still home to the Armstrong family, and
visitors are able to enjoy what has been
described as the finest castle in all England.
The public tour includes the magnificent
Kings Hall, the Cross Hall, reception rooms,
the Bakehouse and Victorian Scullery, as well
as the Armoury and Dungeon. The rooms
contain a wide range of fine china, porcelain
and glassware, together with paintings,
furniture, tapestries, arms and armour. The
castle is open daily from mid-March to the
end of October between 11am and 5pm; teas
and light refreshments are available in the
Clock Tower.
The town, the first capital of
Northumberland, was the birthplace of
Grace Darling, the
celebrated Victorian
heroine, who, in 1838,
rowed out with her father
in the tiny lighthouse coble
from the Longstone
Lighthouse in a ferocious
storm to rescue the
survivors of the steam ship
Forfarshire, which had
foundered on Harcar Rock.
At the first attempt they
rescued five crew members,
taking them to safety in the
lighthouse, then rowed back
for the remaining four.
Lindisfarne Priory
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The islands have important Christian links,
as it was on Inner Farne that St Cuthbert died
in AD687. A little chapel was built here in his
memory and restored in Victorian times.
According to legend, the nearby Tower House
was built in medieval times by Prior Castell on
the site of Cuthberts cell. Boat trips to the
Farne Islands leave from the harbour in
Seahouses. Landings are permitted on Inner
Farne and Staple Island, times are restricted
for conservation reasons and advance booking
is necessary at busy times of the year.
WAREN MILL
15 miles SE of Berwick on the B1342
Waren Mill is a small village situated on Budle
Bay, a large inlet of flats and sand where vast
numbers of wading birds and wildfowl come
to feed. Caution should be taken when
walking on the flats, as sections quickly
become cut off at high tide.
BELFORD
14 miles S of Berwick off the A1
D Greensheen Hill F St Cuthberts Cave
Belford is an attractive village of stone houses
whose broad main street contains some
interesting old shops and a fine old coaching
inn, reflecting the fact that this was once an
important town on the Great North Road.
Today, it is an ideal holiday base, standing on
the edge of the Kyloe Hills, where there are
some fine walks, and close to the long golden
beaches and rocky outcrops of the coast.
St Cuthberts Cave, to the north of the
town, is only accessible by foot. It is
completely natural, and concealed by a great
overhanging rock surrounded by woodland. It
is believed that the saints body lay here on its
much interrupted journey across
Northumbria. From the summit of nearby
Grace became an instant celebrity, with
hundreds of admirers asking for locks of her
hair, and though she made several trips away
from home she always returned to
Bamburgh. She died of tuberculosis four
years later, still only in her twenties, and is
buried under a handsome monument in the
churchyard of St Aidans. Mourners attended
in their thousands and Queen Victoria sent
personal condolences. The Grace Darling
Museum, in Radcliffe Road, contains
memorabilia of the famous rescue.
Just offshore are the Farne Islands. This
small group of 28 uninhabited islands of
volcanic Whin Sill rock provides a major
breeding sanctuary for migratory seabirds
including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, arctic
and sandwich terns and kittiwakes. They are
the home to a large colony of Atlantic Grey
seals, which can often be seen from the beach
on the mainland.
Longstone Lighthouse - Bamburgh
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Greensheen Hill there are superb views of
the coast and of the Cheviots to the west.
FORD AND ETAL
12 miles SW of Berwick off the B6354
A Etal and Ford Castles B Maelmin Heritage Trail
A Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
B Heatherslaw Corn Mill B Lady Waterford Gallery
The twin estate villages of Ford and Etal were
built in the late 1800s. Set beside the River Till,
Etal is a picturesque village of attractive white-
painted cottages and a pub, the Black Bull,
which is the only hostelry in Northumberland
with a thatched roof. Another singularity here
is the green for quoits, a Northumbrian game
traditionally played with horseshoes.
At one end of the single street is Etal Castle
(English Heritage), which was fortified in the
early 1300s by the Manners family, sending a
clear message to their bitter enemies, the
Herons, who had built their castle at nearby
Ford a few years earlier. Etal Castle was
captured and partially destroyed in 1497 by
King James IV of Scotland on his way to
Flodden. The ruins, which occupy a lovely
position on a steep bank above the river, now
contain a visitor centre and exhibition telling
the story of the castle, border warfare and the
Battle of Flodden. Etals Church of the
Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1858 by
Lady Augusta Fitz-Clarence in memory of her
husband and daughter.
Ford is also a model village, created in the
1860s by the estimable Louisa Ann,
Marchioness of Waterford, who had been a
bridesmaid to Queen Victoria. She was a
noted beauty and an accomplished artist who
had studied with the Pre-Raphaelite artist John
Ruskin. After the death of her husband, she
devoted her time to decorating the village
school (which she had built) with some quite
remarkable murals depicting Old Testament
scenes. She used local families and the school
children as models, thus creating a pictorial
gallery of life and work in the area at that
time. No longer used as a school, the building
is open to the public as the Lady Waterford
Gallery. The exhibits include watercolours by
Lady Waterford herself, along with some
unique 19th-century murals and scenes from
the Bible.
Other elements of Lady Waterfords legacy
include the Horseshoe Forge, built as a
blacksmiths shop, a fountain
surmounted by a marble angel, and
the Jubilee Cottage, built in 1887
to commemorate Queen Victorias
Golden Jubilee.
The Marchioness lived at Ford
Castle, which was originally built in
1282 and greatly extended in the
following century. Like Etal Castle,
it was badly damaged by the Scots
on their way to Flodden. It was
converted into a comfortable
mansion in the 1760s, and again
altered by the Marchioness in the
Etal Castle
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1860s. The castle itself is not open to the
public, but its old walled garden is now a
nursery selling a wide range of plants.
At Heatherslaw, between the two villages,
is the Heatherslaw Railway, a 15 inch gauge
steam railway that runs between Etal Castle
and Heatherslaw Corn Mill, a water-
powered working watermill dating back to
1830, which still uses its original machinery to
produce flour. About two-and-a-half miles
southwest is the small village of Milfield,
where there is a 16th-century tower house
known as Coupland Castle. Scattered around
this area are standing stones and mysterious
examples of rock art, all of which can be
explored following the Maelmin Heritage
Trail from Milfield. The trail includes a full
scale replica henge, and a Mesolithic hut built
for the BBC programme Meet the Ancestors.
Alnwick
A Castle A St Michaels Church
A Hotspur Tower B Museums I Alnwick Fair
C Hulne Priory C Abbey E Gardens
Alnwick (pronounced Annick) is one of
Northumberlands most impressive towns. It
still retains the feel and appearance of a great
medieval military and commercial centre,
being an important market town since the
granting of its charter in 1291. The town is
dominated by the huge fortress of Alnwick
Castle, set in beautiful parklands designed and
landscaped in the 18th century by Capability
Brown and Thomas Call. Alnwick Castle
began, like most of Northumberlands castles,
as a Norman motte and bailey. In the 12th
century this was replaced by a stone castle,
which was greatly added to over the centuries.
REDFOOT LEA B&B
Greensfield Moor Farm, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 2HH
Tel: 01665 603891
e-mail: info@redfootlea.co.uk website: www.redfootlea.co.uk
Redfoot Lea B&B is part of a recently converted farm steading. The
property is conveniently close to the A1 but the setting is quiet and
rural, with attractive views of arable farmland worked by
Northumberland Estates. The ground-floor guest accommodation an
en suite double and an en suite twin has been tastefully and
stylishly decorated by owner, Philippa Bell, successfully combining
traditional and modern elements to create a particularly pleasant and
comfortable base for a break. The rooms have underfloor heating,
hospitality tray, TV with freeview and DVD, radio alarm, hairdryer
and quality towels, bathrobes and toiletries. The day starts with an
excellent breakfast served in the splendid dining hall. A wide choice
featuring prime local ingredients includes a full English, Craster
kippers, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and home-made bread.
Guests can relax or plan their days in the south facing sitting room,
where a log fire keeps things cosy in the cooler months.
Philippa also has a lovely cottage for a go-as-you-please self-
catering holiday for two. Redfoot Lea (no children under 12, no pets)
is located less than two miles south of Alnwick off the Shilbottle road. The A1 provides easy
access to all the attractions of the Northeast, and the stunning Northumberland coast is just a few
minutes away.
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In 1309, the castle came into the possession of
Henry de Percy, who strengthened the
fortifications. Henrys great grandson was
made an earl, and the castle was then passed
down through 11 generations of Earls. When
the male Percy line died out, it passed through
the female line to Sir Hugh Smithson, who
took the Percy name and was created Duke of
Northumberland. When the Duke inherited
the castle in 1750 it was falling into disrepair
and he commissioned the renowned Robert
Adam to restore it into a residence fit for a
Duke. The superb ceilings and fireplaces can
still be seen today. Further sweeping changes
were made in the 1850s and 1860s, when the
4th Duke commissioned the Victorian
architect Anthony Salvin to transform the
castle into a great country house with all
modern comforts while recapturing its former
medieval glory. Visitors can admire the Italian
Renaissance-style State Rooms and treasures
that include paintings by Titian, Tintoretto,
Canaletto and Van Dyck, collections of
Meissen china and exquisite furniture. The
castle is open daily from
1 April to 31 October.
There is also an impressive archaeological
museum and extensive archive collections, as
well as the Northumberland Fusiliers
Museum housed in The Abbots Tower.
The castle is still the home of the Percys,
and is a favourite location for making films,
including Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, Elizabeth
(with Cate Blanchett), episodes of Blackadder
and the Harry Potter films, in which it doubles
as Hogwarts School.
Bailiffgate Museum brings the people and
places of North Northumberland to life using
six specially-themed areas to showcase the
unique heritage of this historic region.
BELL & SONS
15-17 Bondgate Within, Alnwick,
Northumberland NE66 1SX
Tel: 01665 602584
e-mail: bellsofalnwick@googlemail.com
website: www.bellsofalnwick.co.uk
Bell & Sons is a long-established high-class gentelemans outfitters
with a reputation that extends throughout the region and beyond.
Founded in 1897, it has always been family-run, and the current
owner-director is Stephen Bell, the fourth generation of his family to
run the business. The shop, in Bondgate Within (B6346), is stocked
with an impressive selection of high-quality traditional menswear and
accessories for all ages and all sizes, from small to XXXXXL. The
range runs from suits and formal wear to sports jackets, trousers,
shirts, nightwear, knitwear, socks, underwear, ties, belts, braces,
hats, caps, novelty cufflinks and wallets.
Think of a famous brand and the chances are that youll find it in
Bell & Sons, along with some less familiar names, but all chosen for
quality, style and wearability. A few examples: Brook Taverner suits,
tweed jackets and waistcoats; Peter England non-iron shirts; Gurteen
cavalry twill trousers and cord jackets; Rocola evening wear; Viyella cotton shirts, Wolsey,
Wrangler denims, Hawick knitwear 100% lambswool, V-neck and crew neck sweaters; H J Hall
soft top socks. The current stock can be viewed on the shops comprehensive website and ordered
online. The shop also offers an evening, morning and highland wear service.
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Housed in the former St Marys
church, dating back to 1836, the
museum features interactive exhibits
and specially-commissioned film and
archive footage, paintings, drawings
and events throughout the year.
(01665 605847).
The present Duke and Duchess of
Northumberland have transformed the
12 acres of castle grounds with a
14 million restoration and Alnwick
Garden attracted more than 300,000
visitors in its first year of opening. There are
flowerbeds brimming with some 15,000 plants,
a scented Rose Garden containing over 2,000
shrub roses, and the European-inspired
Ornamental Garden. The breathtaking
centrepiece is the Grand Cascade, a wonderful
tumbling mass of water culminating in a series
of fountains that spray 350 litres of water six
metres into the air every second. Other delights
include the bamboo Labyrinth, Woodland Walk
and The Treehouse, high in the trees outside
the walls of the main garden. Continuing
developments are underway to create a state-of-
the-art Pavilion and Visitor Centre, more
gardens, an orchard and a grotto. The garden
shop sells a wonderful array of gifts, gardening
goods and plants. The garden is accessible
throughout to visitors with disabilities.
Hulne Park landscaped by the great
Northumbrian-born Capability Brown,
encompasses the ruins of Hulne Priory, the
earliest Carmelite Foundation in England,
dating from 1242.
Alnwick town itself is worthy of an
afternoons exploration around its evocatively-
named ancient narrow streets of Pottergate,
Fenkle Street, Green Batt, Bondgate Without
and Bondgate Within. A road leads through the
narrow arch of Hotspur Tower, the one
surviving part of the towns fortifications, built
by the second Duke of Northumberland in the
15th century. All thats left of the once mighty
Alnwick Abbey is its 15th-century gatehouse,
situated just beyond Canongate Bridge.
Each year on Shrove Tuesday the town is
host to an annual tradition that begins with the
Duke throwing a ball over the castle wall into
the town and ends when the ball is retrieved
from the river. Traditionally the head of a
Scotsman was used, but today the game is
played using a more conventional football.
St Michaels Church overlooks the River
Aln and dates from the 1400s. It was unusual
in a place as lawless as Northumberland at that
time to build a church as large and as splendid
as St Michaels.
The popular and colourful Alnwick Fair,
dating back to the 13th century, takes place
each June.
Around Alnwick
LESBURY
3 miles E of Alnwick on the A1068
Lesbury is a long straggling village on the
River Aln, which is tidal up to this point.
Theres an old stone bridge over the river and
Alnwick Gardens Treehouse
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a small Norman church with a square tower
topped by a pyramidal roof. The church was
restored by Anthony Salvin in 1846 when
some fine stained glass windows from the
AK Nicholson studios were installed. The
vicar here in the mid-1600s was Patrick
Mackilwyan who is featured in Fullers
Worthies. During the Plague of 1665, he
visited the afflicted in their tents outside the
village despite being 97 years old at the time.
Mackilwyan died at the age of 101 and left an
epitaph declaring that Of friends and books,
good and few are best.
ALNMOUTH
3 miles E of Alnwick off the A1068
Alnmouth is a small, unspoilt seaside resort at
the mouth of the River Aln, with fine sandy
beaches and two golf courses. The villages
origins go back to the 8th century and it was
the main seaport for the town of Alnwick in
the Middle Ages. John Paul Jones, the Scot
who founded the American navy, bombarded
the port during the American War of
Independence.
Alnmouths great days as a port ended on
Christmas Day 1806 when a mighty storm
deposited so much water that the River Aln
broke its banks and formed a new channel.
The new channel however was much
shallower and ships exporting coal
and wool were unable to navigate the
new course. The port went into
decline, but some measure of relief
came about 40 years later when the
East Coast railway was built. This
opened up a new role for the town as
a seaside resort for those wishing to
escape smoky Newcastle in order to
enjoy the wonderful beaches that
stretch for several miles down the
coast. A current venture, the Aln Valley
Railway, aims to join the coast to Alnwick
Castle, running from Alnmouth Station to a
new station in the Lionheart Business Park in
Alnwick.
The village is the starting point for many
excellent walks along superb stretches of
coastline both southwards, past extensive
dunes to Warkworth, and north to the former
fishing village of Boulmer.
WARKWORTH
6 miles SE of Alnwick on the A1068
A Castle A The Hermitage
A St Lawrences Church
At the southern end of Alnmouth Bay, on the
River Coquet, lies Warkworth Castle (English
Heritage). The site has been fortified since the
Iron Age, though the first stone castle was
probably built by one Roger, son of Richard,
who had been granted the castle by Henry II
in the 12th century.
What can be seen now is mainly late 12th
and 13th century, including the great
Carrickfergus Tower and the West Postern
Towers, built by Rogers son, Robert. The
castle came into the ownership of the Percys
in 1332 and the family lived here up until the
1500s. The family crest can be seen on the
Warkworth Castle
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Lion Tower. The castle is a delightful sight in
spring when the grass mound on which it
stands is covered with thousands of daffodils.
The most famous of all the Percys, Harry
(known as Hotspur) was brought up here. In
1399 the family played an important role in
placing Henry Bolingbroke on the throne as
Henry IV.
An unusual and interesting walk is
signposted to The Hermitage, along the
riverside footpath below the castle, where a
ferry takes you across the river to visit the tiny
chapel hewn out of solid rock. It dates from
medieval times and was in use until late in the
16th century.
Warkworth is an interesting and beautiful
village in its own right. An imposing fortified
gatehouse on the 14th-century bridge, now only
used by pedestrians, would enable an invading
army to be kept at bay north of the Coquet. St
Lawrences Church is almost entirely
Norman, though its spire an unusual feature
on medieval churches in Northumberland
dates from the 14th century.
AMBLE
7 miles SE of Alnwick on the A1068
E Coquet Island B Lifeboat Station
Amble is a small port situated at the mouth of
the River Coquet, once important for the
export of coal, but now enjoying new
prosperity as a marina and sea-fishing centre,
with a carefully restored harbour. It is a lively
place, particularly when the daily catches of
fish are being unloaded.
A mile offshore lies Coquet Island. It was
here that St Cuthbert landed in AD684. The
islands square-towered lighthouse was built in
1841 on the ruins of a 15th-century
monastery known as Cocwadae. Parts of the
ZECCA
47-49 High Street, Amble, Northumberland NE65 0LE
Tel: 01665 713575
e-mail: info@eatzecca.co.uk website: www.eatzecca.co.uk
A buzz of excitement went through the food-lovers of Amble
in the summer of 2009 when the news spread that a new
restaurant was about to open on the High Street. That
restaurant was Zecca, and it immediately became clear what
the buzz was all about. The owner-chef is Richard Sim, recent
North East Chef of the Year, whose CV includes a spell with
Marco Pierre White at Londons Berkeley Hotel. His cooking
here is traditional Italian with a modern twist, combining
quality with excellent value for money and making fine use of
the best seasonal local produce.
As well as pizzas from the wood-fired oven and a variety
of pasta dishes a typical menu could include garlic
mushrooms, braised Lindisfarne mussels with prosecco, cream
and parsley, wild mushroom and chicken risotto, chargrilled steaks and dishes based on superb
Northumberland lamb. Desserts like tiramisu, lemon tart with candied raspberries and home-made
ices round off a meal in style, and the food is accompanied by a good choice of wines. Zecca is
relaxed and contemporary, a great place to take the kids, and equally suitable for a pizza with
friends after work, parties, family get-togethers and romantic dinners for two. Zecca is open for
lunch (12 to 2) Thursday to Sunday and for dinner (4 to 11) every day.
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THE FLOWER CENTRE
42-48 Queen Street, Amble, Northumberland NE65 0BZ
Tel: 01665 710279 Fax: 01665 710982
e-mail: enquiries@flower-centre.co.uk
website: www.flower-centre.co.uk
Amble is a popular little port at the mouth of the River Coquet.
Theres lots for visitors, including a trip to the bird sanctuary on
Coquet Island, but no visit to this pleasant town is complete
without taking time to browse and buy at The Flower Centre.
When the shop was founded in the 1970s it was a specialist
florist, but in 2001 it moved premises and expanded to include cards,
gifts and nice things for the home. The wide range of gifts and treats
includes glassware and ceramics, Colony scented candles, Teddy
bears and cuddly toys, balloons and other party things, potted plants,
local jams and confectionery, chocolates, gift wrap and cards by
Carte Blanche and Caspari. Flowers are still very much at the heart of
the business, and in the extensive department the finest
arrangements from the freshest flowers can be seen.
The owners and staff are real experts in the art of wedding
floristry, providing everything from wonderful arrangements for the
venue and centrepieces for the table to bridal bouquets, corsages, buttonholes and floral gifts.
They can provide a similar service for a whole range of special occasions, from birthdays and
christenings to Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Valentines Day, Easter and Christmas.
HARBOUR GUEST HOUSE
24 Leazes Street, Amble,
Northumberland NE65 0AA
Tel: 01665 710381
e-mail: info@ambleharbourguesthouse.co.uk
website: www.ambleharbourguesthouse.co.uk
Right on the seafront in a small port at the mouth of the
River Coquet, Harbour Guest House is an ideal base for
exploring the Northumberland coast and countryside. The
Wilding family offer excellent B&B accommodation in six
neat en suite rooms with TV and hot drinks facilities. The
whole place has an old-world appeal and the maritime connection is
very evident: the patio has a strong fishing theme, with lobster pots,
nets and lifebelts, and every morning the local fishermen bring their
catch to a site at the back of the house. A full English breakfast makes
a good start to the day, and the guest house has a pleasant wooden-
floored bistro/tea room serving hot and cold food prepared to order.
Amble, once a coal exporting point, now thrives as a base for
leisure boating and a centre for sea fishing. Anglers are frequent
guests at Harbour Guest House, and the owners are happy to freeze their catch there are two
chest freezers in a log cabin in the garden, along with space for bikes and fishing and scuba gear.
A favourite boat trip from Amble is to Coquet Island, a mile offshore, once the site of a monastery,
now a renowned sanctuary for colonies of terns, puffins, eider ducks and other seabirds.
Welcomes walkers, cyclists, pets and families.
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the kipper curing season, visitors can peer into
the smoking sheds where the herring are hung
over smouldering piles of oak chips.
South of Craster is Howick Hall, built in
1782, and having long associations with the
Grey family whose family lineage includes
many famous public figures most notably
the 2nd Earl Grey, the great social reformer
and tea enthusiast. The gardens are open to
the public in spring and summer and are noted
for their beauty, particularly in the
rhododendron season.
Craster Quarry was closed in 1939, and is
now a small nature reserve called the Arnold
Memorial Site. It was this quarry that
supplied London and other large cities with its
kerbstones. The quarry is the starting point for
a pleasant walk along the coastal footpath to
Dunstanburgh castle.
EMBLETON
6 miles NE of Alnwick on the B1339
A Dunstanburgh Castle
The dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle
stand on a cliff top east of the village, on a site
that was originally an Iron Age fort. The fabric
monastic building have survived,
including a Benedictine cell dating
from the 14th century.
Coquet Island had a reputation
in former times for causing
shipwrecks, but is now a celebrated
bird sanctuary, noted for colonies
of terns, puffins and eider ducks.
Managed by the Royal Society for
the Protection of Birds, the island
can be visited by boat trips
departing from Amble quayside
throughout the summer. Ambles
Lifeboat Station is open daily
from 10am to 4pm.
DRURIDGE BAY
12 miles SE of Alnwick off the A1068
J Country Park C Chibburn Preceptory
Druridge Bay Country Park is set just
behind the sand dunes and grasslands of
Druridge Bay. The park includes Ladyburn
Lake, where there is sailing and windsurfing,
plus walking trails, a visitors centre and picnic
area. The whole area was once a huge open-
cast coal mine before it was landscaped and
opened as a park in 1989. Nearby are the ruins
of medieval Chibburn Preceptory a small
medieval house and chapel that belonged to
the Knights Hospitaller.
CRASTER
5 miles NE of Alnwick off the B1339
E Howick Hall E Arnold Memorial Site
Craster is a small, unpretentious fishing village
with a reputation for the best oak-smoked
kippers in the country. At one time, herring
were caught around this coast in vast
quantities, but a combination of over-fishing
and pollution resulted in a decline in numbers,
so the fish now have to be imported. During
Howick Hall, Craster
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of the castle as seen today was built in
1313 by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and
in the Wars of the Roses it withstood a
siege from troops led by Margaret of
Anjou, Henry VIs Queen. The damage
caused by the siege was never repaired,
and the castle remains ruinous to this day.
The castle cant be reached by road, but
a path from the village passing through
Dunstan Steads, a mile southeast of
Embleton, will bring you to it. The castle,
plus the whole coastline to the north as
far as Brunton Burn, is owned by the National
Trust.
To the north of Embleton is the village of
Newton-by-the-Sea, where there are some
attractive 18th-century fishermans cottages
built around three sides of a square.
BEADNELL
C St Ebbas Chapel J St Aidans Dunes
Beadnell is a small fishing village with a
harbour and some important 18th-century
lime kilns that are now owned by the National
Trust. Running eastwards from the harbour
into the sea is Ebbs Nook, a narrow strip of
land on which stands the scant remains of
13th-century St Ebbas Chapel, dedicated to
the sister of King Oswald, King of
Northumbria. This is a delightful stretch of
coast, and keen walkers can follow the
coastline either by shore path or along the
B1340 past St Aidans Dunes (owned by the
National Trust) to Seahouses.
SEAHOUSES
B Lifeboat Station
Seahouses is a lively fishing port and small
resort with an interesting harbour, magnificent
beaches and sand dunes stretching for miles
on either side of the town. It is conveniently
situated for viewing the Farne Islands, which
lie between two and five miles off the coast,
and visitors can take a boat trip departing
from the harbour to see them at close hand.
The Lifeboat Station, which has an all-
weather boat and an inshore craft, can be
visited from 9am to dusk daily.
CHATHILL
8 miles N of Alnwick off the A1
A Preston Tower
Close to Chathill is Preston Tower, built by
Sir Robert Harbottle, Sheriff of
Northumberland, in 1392. The outside walls
are seven feet thick, while inside are fine
tunnel-vaulted rooms, which have changed
little over the centuries. Two turret rooms have
been simply furnished in the style of the
period and there are displays depicting the
Battle of Flodden and life in the Borders at
the start of the 15th century.
ELLINGHAM
7 miles N of Alnwick off the A1
A St Maurices Church A Hall
Ellingham (pronounced Ellin-jam) is a small
agricultural village centred around St
Dunstanburgh Castle
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Maurices Church, whose Norman details
were all but swept away in a restoration of
1862. It features a central tower instead of
the more usual west one. Ellingham Hall
stands at the end of a quiet lane beyond the
village. South of Ellingham is the village of
Fallodon, remembered in the name of
Charles, 2nd Earl Grey of Fallodon. He was
Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834 and
introduced Earl Grey tea into England. A
subtle mix of India and Ceylon teas
flavoured with bergamot, the recipe was
given to him by a Chinese mandarin whose
life his staff had saved.
EGLINGHAM
6 miles NW of Alnwick on the B6346
A St Maurices Church C The Ringses
St Maurices Church dates from about 1200,
and was built on a site granted to the monks
of Lindisfarne in AD738 by King Ceowulf of
Northumbria. In 1596 it was attacked by the
Scots, and part of the chancel had to be
rebuilt in the early 17th century.
A few bumps in a field not far away indicate
where the village once stood, and a mile to the
southwest is a small hill fort with the quaint
name of The Ringses.
CHILLINGHAM
11 miles NW of Alnwick off the B6348
A Castle C Ros Castle
Chillingham is a pleasant estate village best
known for the herd of wild, horned white
cattle that roam parkland close to
Chillingham Castle. Descendants of the cattle
that once roamed Britains forests, they are
the only herd of wild white cattle in the
country. Chillingham village was built by the
Earls of Tankerville and contains many
Tudor-style houses.
Chillingham Castle is beautifully sited
within a 365-acre park. Begun in 1245, the
castle belonged for many years to the Grey
family who fought many battles with the
Scots and the Percys of Alnwick. Sadly, the
castle fell into ruin in the 1930s, but was
bought in the 1980s by Sir Humphrey
Wakefield, a descendant of the Grey family,
and has been splendidly restored. Attractions
include the impressive Grand Hall, a jousting
course, dungeon and torture chamber. The
castle and surrounding gardens are open to
the public from May to September. Two
signposted walks have been laid out through
Chillingham Woods, giving superb views over
the surrounding countryside.
The nearby church is worth visiting to see
the ornate 15th-century tomb of Sir Ralph
Grey and his wife, Elizabeth. This splendid
monument is regarded as the finest surviving
example of its kind in England.
Just outside the village is the National
Trust-owned hill fort Ros Castle, once a vital
beacon site visible as far afield as the Scottish
hills and Holy Island. The whole area was
thrown into chaos in 1804 when an over-
enthusiastic warden lit the beacon by mistake.
EDLINGHAM
5 miles SW of Alnwick on the B6341
A Castle D Corbys Crags
Edlingham mustnt be confused with the
villages of Eglingham and Ellingham, both a
few miles to the north. Here at Edlingham the
moorland road crosses Corbys Crags
affording visitors one of the finest views in
Northumberland. The panorama encompasses
the Cheviot Hills in the north, while to the
south a rolling landscape of heather moors
and crags stretches as far as Hadrians Wall.
On a clear day its possible to catch a glimpse
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of the high peaks of the Pennines.
Edlingham Castle was built in the
12th century, but abandoned in 1650 when
parts of it collapsed. The ruins were originally
thought to be of a simple Northumbrian
tower house, but excavations in the late 1970s
and early 1980s showed it to have been much
more substantial than that.
LONGFRAMLINGTON
9 miles SW of Alnwick on the A697
J Devils Causeway
Longframlington derives its name from its
principal family, the de Framlingtons, who are
recorded as the 12th-century benefactors of
Brinkburn Priory. The route of the Devils
Causeway, a Roman road between Hadrians
Wall and the Scottish border, can easily be
traced west of the village, along what is now a
farm lane past Framlington Villa.
There are few shops here, but the village
retains the traditional craftsmanship of a
Northumbrian pipe maker. The workshop,
where you can see the production of these
unique and beautiful musical instruments, is
open to the public.
Morpeth
A Clock Tower A Town Hall A Chantry
A St Marys Church A Newminster Abbey
G Emily Davison
The county town of Morpeth seems far
removed, both in spirit and appearance, from
the mining areas further down the Wansbeck
valley. An attractive market town, Morpeth
was once a stopping point on the A1 from
Newcastle and Edinburgh, before the days of
bypasses, and some fine inns were established
to serve the weary travellers.
GEBHARDS DELI-FARM SHOP
7 Newgate Street, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 1AL
Tel: 01670 512106
e-mail: deli-farm@hotmail.com
Tony and Sandra Shaw took over Gebhards Pork Butchers and
turned it into Gebhards Deli-Farm Shop, where they sell a wide
variety of top-quality produce, locally sourced as far as possible.
Based in Morpeth, the deli attracts a wide and growing band of
loyal customers with its quality, reliability and value for money.
Tony and Sandra used to raise pigs on their farm, but now
Tony has developed a close working relationship with local
farmers, ensuring consistently high quality in the meat they
supply. Organically raised, the meat is butchered in the deli and
sold as cuts and joints to meet the customers individual
requirements. Theres always a good choice of beef, lamb and
pork, along with bacon, sausages and poultry. Gebhards
specialises in hog roasts, catering for weddings and other get-
togethers and supplying a number of local outlets. Shoppers will
also find superb pies and quiches (salmon & broccoli, bacon & leek), samosas, cheese, salads, soups,
sandwiches and ready-to-go snacks and meals that are ideal for walkers and cyclists to take a break
to buy their lunch. There are oils plain and flavoured, vinegars, pickles, teas and coffes. Bread is
baked daily with no chemical additives, along with buns, cakes and pastries.
Gebhards is open from 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 7 to 4.30 Saturday.
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of the collection was William Alfred Cocks, a
clockmaker from Ryton near Newcastle. The
towns tourist information centre is also
located here, as are a craft centre, a
silversmiths and a mountain sports shop.
St Marys Church, lying to the south of the
river, dates from the 14th century. It has some
of the finest stained glass in Northumberland.
In the churchyard is the grave of suffragette
Emily Davison, who ran among galloping
horses and was killed under the hooves of
Anmer, the Kings horse, during the 1913
Derby meeting. Her funeral attracted thousands
of people to Morpeth. About a mile west of
the town are the remains of Newminster
Abbey, a Cistercian foundation dating from the
12th century. It was founded by monks from
Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire.
Around Morpeth
ASHINGTON
5 miles E of Morpeth on the A197
J Wansbeck Riverside Park
Ashington is a sprawling town around the River
Wansbeck, built to serve the mining industry.
The two-mile-long Wansbeck Riverside Park,
which has been developed along the
embankment, offers sailing and angling
facilities, plus a four-mile walk along the mouth
of the River Wansbeck. The famous footballing
brothers Bobby and Jackie Charlton were born
in Ashington in the 1930s.
WOODHORN
A St Marys Church B Colliery Museum
J Queen Elizabeth Country Park
At Woodhorn, close to Ashington, stands the
fascinating late Anglo-Saxon St Marys
The Normans built a castle here that stood
in what is now Carlisle Park. It was destroyed
by William Rufus in 1095. A second castle was
built close by, but was demolished by King
John in 1215. It was subsequently rebuilt, but
was mostly destroyed yet again by Montrose in
1644, though substantial ruins remain. Known
as Morpeth Castle, it is now a restored
gatehouse, managed by the Landmark Trust
and is open once a year.
The third which isnt really a castle but has
the appearance of one was built by John
Dobson in 1828 as the county gaol and
courthouse. Still standing, it is now private
apartments and self-catering accommodation.
The Clock Tower in the middle of Oldgate
has been raised in height several times. It
probably dates from the early 1600s, although
medieval stone was used in its construction. In
its time it has served as a gaol and a place
from where the nightly curfew was sounded.
Its bells were a gift from a Major Main, who
was elected MP for the town in 1707. He had
intended them for Berwick, but they didnt
elect him, so, as a local saying goes, the bells
of Berwick still ring at Morpeth. The Clock
Tower is one of only a handful of such
buildings in England. The Town Hall was
built in 1714 to designs by Vanbrugh, and the
handsome bridge over the Wansbeck was
designed by Telford.
Not to be missed is the 13th-century
Morpeth Chantry on Bridge Street.
Originally the Chapel of All Saints, over the
years it has served as a cholera hospital, a
mineral water factory and a school where the
famous Tudor botanist William Turner was
educated. Since 1987 it has housed the
Chantry Bagpipe Museum. An ingenious
sound system brings the pipes to life and are
set in the context of bagpipes around the
world from India to Inverness. The founder
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Church, said to be the oldest church building
in Northumberland. The outside was heavily
restored in 1843, though the inside is almost
wholly pre-Norman. Notable among its
treasures is a 13th-century effigy of Agnes de
Velence, wife of Hugh de Baliol, brother of
the Scottish king, John Baliol. The
Woodhorn Colliery Museum, which is
linked to the Queen Elizabeth Country
Park by a short light railway, offers
interesting displays of mining life and the
social history of the area. Turning the Pages
is an award-winning interactive exhibition on
the Lindisfarne Gospels.
NEWBIGGIN BY THE SEA
A St Bartholomews Church
Newbiggin by the Sea is a fishing village and
small resort enjoying an attractive stretch of
coastline with rocky inlets and sandy beaches,
now much improved after the ravages of the
coal industry. St Bartholomews Church has
a particularly interesting 13th-century interior.
The village has the oldest operational lifeboat
house in Britain, built in 1851.
LONGHORSLEY
6 miles N of Morpeth off the A697
Longhorsley is noted for being the home of
Thomas Bell, inventor of self-raising flour. He
called it Bells Royal, but the name was later
changed to Bero.
Born at Blackheath in London, Emily
Davison spent a lot of time in the village. A
plaque on the wall of the post office, her
former home, commemorates her death under
the feet of the kings horse at Epsom in 1913.
Her suffragette activities are remembered by
the local Womens Institute each year when
flowers are placed on her grave in Morpeth.
KIRKHARLE
11 miles W of Morpeth off the B6342
A Hall G Kirkharle
The village of Kirkharle was where Lancelot
Brown, later known as Capability Brown, was
born in 1716. Englands greatest landscape
gardener earned the sobriquet Capability
from his habit of telling clients that their
grounds had excellent capabilities of
improvement. He made the most of those
capabilities in the superb landscapes he
created at Blenheim, Kew, Stowe,
Chatsworth, Warwick Castle and, it is
believed, at Wallington Hall. Despite his pre-
eminence there is no national exhibit
celebrating his life and work, but at the
Laundry Court Coffee House in Kirkharle,
theres an interesting exhibit commemorating
the local boy who made good.
Just to the north of Kirkharle is
Wallington Hall, lying deep in the heart of
the Northumbrian countryside. It is a National
Trust property dating from 1688. The two
great families associated with the place the
Blacketts and the Trevelyans have each made
their own mark on what must be one of the
most elegant houses in Northumberland. In
the Great Hall is a famous collection of
paintings about Northumbrian history, and
Woodhorn Colliery Museum
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one of the rooms has an unusual collection of
dolls houses.
BELSAY
7 miles SW of Morpeth on the A696
A Hall J Bolam Lake Country Park
Belsay Hall (see panel on page 28) was built
for Sir Charles Monck on an estate that already
had a castle and a Jacobean mansion. Set in
30 acres of landscaped gardens, Belsay Hall is
Greek in style and contains the architecturally
splendid Great Hall. Two miles west is the
Bolam Lake Country Park, with a 25-acre
lake, trails and picnic areas.
BEDLINGTON
5 miles SE of Morpeth off the A189
Bedlington, formerly known as the county
town of Bedlingtonshire, was a district of the
County Palatinate of Durham until 1844,
when it was incorporated into
Northumberland. The town became the centre
of a prosperous mining and iron-founding
community and has two important links with
railway history. The rolled iron rails for the
Stockton and Darlington Railway were
manufactured here, and it is also the birthplace
of the great locomotive engineer, Sir Daniel
Gooch. One of the greatest engineers of his
day, Sir Daniel was the locomotive
superintendent on the Great Western Railway,
and the man who first linked up North
America and Europe via a telegraph line.
There is an attractive country park at
Humford Mill, with an information centre and
nature trails. At Plessey Woods, southwest of
the town, another country park extends along
the wooded banks of the River Blyth, around
Plessey Mill, with trails and a visitor centre.
STANNINGTON NURSERIES
58 Station Road, Stannington, nr Morpeth,
Northumberland NE61 6NH
Tel/Fax: 01670 789377
e-mail: enquiries@stanningtonnurseries.co.uk
website: www.stanningtonnurseries.co.uk
Gardeners and plant-lovers will find just about everything they need
at Stannington Nurseries, which enjoys a rural setting halfway up
Station Road, between the A1 and A192. The nurseries are owned
and run by Steve and Ann Tait, who have expanded the business
year by year since taking over in 2007. They stock a wide selection
of bedding plants, shrubs and perennials, along with plant and lawn
feeds and garden tools and ornaments. Steve, Ann and their staff
have a friendly welcome for all their visitors and are always ready
with advice for the owners of everything from the largest garden to
the smallest window box. On the same site, Steve runs J.T.Pine,
where he designs and makes furniture that is durable, practical and
attractive. Behind the nurseries is a delightful Tea Room located in a
Swedish pine log cabin. With seats for 40 or more, it offers a wide
range of hot and cold food and drink. Work by talented local artists
is displayed for sale on the walls, and parents can keep an eye on
their children as they romp in the safe play area.
Stannington Nurseries and the Tea Room are open seven days
a week.
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BLYTH
12 miles NE of Newcastle on the A193
A High Light Lighthouse B Plessey Wagonway
Blyth is a small industrial town at the mouth of
the River Blyth. Much of the towns industrial
heritage is linked to the Northumberland
coalfields their rapid decline in recent years is
a loss from which the area is only slowly
recovering. The oldest part of the town is set
around an 18th-century lighthouse called the
High Light. Blyth claims its own piece of
railway history with one of the countrys earliest
wagonways, the Plessey Wagonway, dating
from the 17th century and built to carry coal
from the pits to the riverside.
As well as coal mining and shipbuilding, the
town was once a centre of salt production,
and in 1605 it is recorded that there were eight
salt pans in Blyth. The towns industrial
landscape and coastline was the inspiration for
several paintings by JS Lowry. The building
that is now the headquarters of the Royal
Northumberland Yacht Club was a submarine
base during World War Two.
PONTELAND
7 miles NW of Newcastle on the A696
A St Marys Church E Kirkley Hall Gardens
Though this small town has largely become a
dormitory town for Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
resulting in a lot of recent development, it still
retains a character of its own. St Marys
Church much altered, but essentially
12th century stands opposite the attractive
Blackbird Inn, housed in a 13th and 14th-
century fortified house. Within the gardens of
the Old Vicarage is a 16th-century vicars pele.
A few miles north of Ponteland are Kirkley
Hall Gardens, which are open to the public.
Home to the national collections of beech,
dwarf willow and ivy, there are 35,000
different species of labelled plants here.
PRUDHOE
9 miles W of Newcastle on the A695
A Castle
The romantic ruins of Prudhoe Castle are in
the care of English Heritage. King William the
Lion of Scotland unsuccessfully attacked the
Belsay Hall Castle and
Gardens
Belsay, near Ponteland, Northumberland NE20 0DX
Tel: 01661 881297 Fax: 01661 881043
Belsay Hall Castle and Gardens is one of the best
English Heritage properties in the area. The Grade I
listed hall was built for Sir Charles Monck on an
estate that already had a castle and Jacobean
mansion, and they all stand in
30 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. There
is a magnolia garden, terraces, rhododendrons, a
winter garden and croquet lawn, and a quarry
garden. In addition, theres free parking, a tea room (summer only) and various small
exhibitions. Opening Times: Daily 24 March-30 September 10-6; 1-31 October 10-4; 1
November-31 March 10-4 (except Tue and Wed); closed 24-26 December and 1 January.
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castle in 1173 and 1174, and the threat of
further attacks led Henry II to agree to the
building of a new stone castle. Completed in
the 12th century, it was one of the finest in
Northumberland, and was later provided with
a moat and drawbridge, a new gatehouse and a
chapel. There is an impressive oriel window
above the altar of the chapel. A Georgian
manor house in the courtyard houses an
exhibition that tells the history of the castle.
MICKLEY SQUARE
10 miles W of Newcastle on the A695
A Cherryburn
A signpost at Mickley Square points the visitor
to Cherryburn (National Trust). The house is
noted as the birthplace of Thomas Bewick
(1753-1828), the well-known illustrator and
wood-engraver, famous for his portrayal of
birds, animals and country life. He illustrated
Aesops Fables and The Book of British Birds and
carved The Chillingham Bull. The Bewick
swan is named after him. The house contains
an exhibition of his woodcuts and there are
frequent demonstrations of the printing
techniques used in his time. Bewick is buried
in the churchyard at nearby Ovingham.
Hadrians Wall and the
National Park
A J Hadrians Wall Path
This is the land of the Border Reivers, or
mosstroopers, bands of marauding men from
both sides of the Border who rustled, pillaged
and fought among themselves, incurring the
wrath of both the English and Scottish kings.
A testament to their activities is the fact they
gave the word blackmail to the English
NORTH ACOMB FARM SHOP
Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7UF
Tel: 01661 843181
website: www.northacombfarmshop.co.uk
For some 30 years, Robin and Caroline have sold produce from
their family-run working farm in beautiful Tyne valley near
Stocksfield. Listed by Les Routiers, their North Acomb Farm
Shop is everything a farm shop should be. Robin and Caroline
pride themselves on offering the finest meat, freshest dairy
products and vegetables. The shop has gained a great reputation
for its certified Aberdeen Angus Beef, home-bred succulent lamb
and traditional outdoor pork (alot of which is reared here at North
Acomb). Free range geese, ducks and guinea fowl are available
at christmas, along with a choice of local game in season.
Then there are the farm fresh and free range chickens and
traditional turkeys, home-made sausages and blackpudding to
our own recipes, home-cured bacon and gammon. Farm-made
cheeses, free range eggs, home-churned butter, cream, milk and
ice cream are also available along with farm fresh vegetables,
chutneys and accompaniments. Home-made meals, cakes, pies
and desserts made to Carolines and Robins own recipes are
ready for the freezer. You will also find a range of carefully
selected items in the delicatessen and a few well-chosen gift
items and greetings cards, all with a rural flavour.
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language. The Pennine Way passes over the
moorland here, dipping occasionally into
surprisingly green and wooded valleys. There
are also less strenuous walks, circular routes and
cycle tracks laid out, with maps and leaflets
available from the park visitor centres at
Rothbury, the quaintly-named Once Brewed,
and Ingram. Here you can also learn about the
history of the area as well as what to see.
Three main valleys penetrate the National
Park from the east Harthope Valley,
Breamish Valley and Coquetdale. Harthope
Valley is accessed from Wooler, along the
Harthope Burn. Part of it is called Happy
Valley and is a popular beauty spot. There are
a number of circular walks from the valley
floor up into the hills and back again.
Breamish Valley is the most popular of the
valleys, and its here that the Ingram Visitor
Centre is located. Again, there are trails and
walkways laid out.
Coquetdale is the gentlest of the three, and
is popular with anglers. It winds up past
Harbottle towards Alwinton and Barrowburn,
but in so doing passes through the Otterburn
Training Area, where up to 30,000 soldiers a
year come to practise their artillery skills. This
has preserved the upper part of Coquetdale
from modern development, and
farming here has changed little over
the years. The valley is rich in wildlife,
and heron, sandpiper and grey wagtail
are common. The exposed crags
support rock-rose and thyme, and
there are patches of ancient woodland.
The Kielder Forest covers 200
square miles and is situated to the
west of the National Park. It contains
Europes largest man-made lake,
Kielder Water, opened by the Queen
in 1982.
In the south of the National Park is by far
the greater part of Hadrians Wall, the best
known Roman monument in Britain, and the
best known Roman frontier in Europe. It
stretches for 80 Roman miles (73 modern
miles) across the country from Bowness-on-
Solway in the west, to Wallsend in the east, and
in 1987 was declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. A national trail, the Hadrians
Wall Path, runs for 84 miles following the
rolling, northern terrain along the entire length
of the Wall, and from May to September the
Hadrians Wall Bus Service runs from Carlisle to
Hexham (and Newcastle and Gateshead Metro
Centre on a Sunday), stopping at the main
attractions along the route. To see the Wall
twisting across the moorland is an awe-inspiring
site, and no visitor to Northumberland should
miss it.
Hexham
A Abbey A Moot Hall A St Mungos Church
B Border History Library and Museum
H I Queens Hall Arts Centre
I Racecourse D Tyne Green Country Park
The picturesque market town of Hexham sits
Hadrians Wall
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in the heart of Tynedale, and is its capital and
administrative centre. Its rich in history and
character and an ideal base from which to
explore the Tyne Valley and Hadrians Wall.
Hexham Abbey, one of the most
important churches in the north of England,
was at one time known as the largest and
most magnificent church this side of the Alps.
It was founded by St Wilfrid in AD674 after
Queen Etheldreda of Northumbria granted
him some land. The crypt of this early church
remains almost intact, access to it is via a
stairway from the nave. The crypt was built
using Roman stones, and on some of them
you can still see inscriptions and carvings.
Frith Stool, also known as St Wilfrids chair, is
a 1,300-year-old stone chair that is believed to
have been used as a coronation throne for the
ancient kings of Northumbria.
In 1130 a group of Augustinian canons set
up an abbey on the site. The present church
dates from the 13th century and contains
some wonderful late-medieval architecture,
which later restoration has not diminished. It
has a rich heritage of carved stonework, and
the early 16th-century rood screen has been
described as the best in any monastic church
in Britain.
The abbey was ransacked many times by the
Scots armies, who at one time poured over the
border into England. However, this was a two-
way traffic, and the English did likewise to the
abbeys at Melrose and Kelso.
The Abbey overlooks the Market Place,
where a lively and colourful market is held
each Tuesday. Nearby is the early 14th-century
Moot Hall, built of Roman stone. It once
served as the courtroom of the Archbishop of
York, who held the grand title of Lord of the
Liberty and Regality of Hexham. Today, the
hall houses the Border History Library,
which contains material on Border life, in
particular the music and poetry of the region.
Nearby, the Manor Office was Englands
first purpose-built prison erected by the
Archbishop in 1332 as a jail for his courthouse.
Queens Hall Art Centre
Beaumont Street, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3LS
Tel: 01434 652477 Fax: 01434 652478
e-mail: boxoffice@queenshall.co.uk
website: www.queenshall.co.uk
Found in the heart of Hexham, very close to the abbey, is the
Queens Hall Art Centre. This elegant 1860s building was originally
used as Hexhams Town Hall and Corn Exchange, but now offers
great opportunities for entertainment in its reincarnation as a lively
arts centre. Hexham Library can also be
found here.
The caf bar at the Queens Hall is a
light and airy space with a great
atmosphere. It was recently refurbished
and renamed Exchange, and here
visitors can sample everything from
cake and coffee to a substantial meal.
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LOUGHBROW HOUSE B&B
Loughbrow, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 1RS
Tel: 01434 603351
e-mail: patrickclark235@btinternet.com
website: www.loughbrowhouse.co.uk
Loughbrow House is a beautiful and comfortably furnished 18
th
century house with five tastefully decorated and welcoming
guest bedrooms, situated in nine acres of magnificent gardens.
Surrounded by beautiful farmland it stands 600ft above the
River Tyne looking over the market town of Hexham to the
North Tyne Valley. Loughbrow House is just a mile from the
centre of town and was built in 1780. It is in an ideal location
for visitors to the area to stay. It is close to the town, but far
enough away to enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside
and the magnificent views. Adjacent to Hadrians Wall, in the
heart of the Northumberland National Park, guests can access
the recently opened Hadrians Wall Trail and enjoy the
wonderful countryside and breathtaking views, the three
adjacent golf courses and the many sights and attractions of the region.
Loughbrow House offers a total of five rooms on a B&B basis. All of the rooms are en-suite or
have private bathrooms. Decorated lovely throughout the guest house serves a fantastic English
breakfast and evening meals can be had, by prior arrangement, for a minimum of four people.
There is plenty of car parking space for guests.
EDGE LIFEWEAR & EDGE COUNTRY
Edge Lifewear: 20-22 St. Marys Chare, Hexham,
Northumberland NE46 1NQ
Edge Country: 31 Market Place, Hexham,
Northumberland NE46 3PB
Tel: 01434 600070
e-mail: sales@edgelifewear.com website: www.edgelifewear.com
Two outlets in the attractive market town of Hexham offer a
wide range of branded clothing, footwear and accessories for
all types of outdoor and leisure activities. Edge Lifewear was
opened in St Marys Chare in 2005 providing clothing, footwear
and accessories for outdoor activities. Edge Country opened in
2009, bringing country lifestyle clothing to Hexhams Market
Place. The shops are owned and run by Ian and Fiona Lloyd,
who strive to source the highest quality of outdoor clothing and
accessories for men, women and children, including jackets,
fleeces, boots, shoes, knitwear, shirts, shorts, T-shirts, hats,
gloves, hoodies, bags and backpacks. Customer service is a top
priority, and the owners are always looking to extend the range
of their stock of iconic brands that combine good looks with
durability and practicality. Featured brands at Edge Lifewear include: Paramo, Berghaus, The North
Face, Merrell, Animal and Oakley. Featured brands at Edge Country include: Barbour, Joules,
Musto, Hunter, Aigle and Puffa. The shops are open from 9.30 to 5.30 Monday to Saturday.
Customers can also browse and buy on line.
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The Border History Museum is located
within the jail and tells, in a vivid way, the story
of the border struggles between Scotland and
England. For centuries the borderlands were
virtually without rule of law, ravaged by bands
of men known as reivers cattle rustlers and
thieves who took advantage of the disputed
border lands. Powerful wardens, or Lords of
the Marches, themselves warlords of pitiless
ferocity, were given almost complete authority
by the king to control the reivers and anyone
else who crossed their path. However, for all
their power and savagery they were singularly
unsuccessful in controlling the bloodshed. This
was the period of the great border ballads,
violent and colourful tales of love, death,
heroism and betrayal, which have found an
enduring place in literature.
The award-winning Queens Hall Arts
Centre (see panel on page 31), with theatre,
caf, library and exhibitions, presents a full and
varied programme throughout the year. The
Centre, built in the 1860s, was originally used as
Hexhams Town Hall and Corn Exchange, and
now offers great opportunities for
entertainment. Hexham Library can also be
found here. A packed schedule of arts events is
on offer throughout the year, including drama,
opera, dance, films, comedy and live music.
Much of the ground floor is given over to a
spacious art gallery, with a second gallery on the
first floor. At the Exchange caf bar visitors can
enjoy everything from cake and coffee to a
substantial and tasty meal.
Hexham has retained much of its character,
with winding lanes and passageways, attractive
18th and 19th-century houses, handsome
terraces and some delightful shops and a
market. There are some fine gardens around
the abbey, and several attractive areas of open
space. Tyne Green Country Park features
lovely walks along the riverside and a picnic
and barbecue site. Hexham National Hunt
Racecourse is one of the most picturesque
courses in the country. Call 01434 606881 for
details of fixtures. At Simonburn, just north
of Hadrians Wall, St Mungos Church is the
Mother Church of the North Tyne Valley.
Around Hexham
CORBRIDGE
3 miles E of Hexham on the A69
A St Andrews Church A Parsons Pele
C Corstorpitum
Corbridge is one of Northumberlands most
attractive towns, a compact little place with
venerable stone buildings at every turn. One
of these is a good place to start exploring this
lively market town. It was built around 1300,
stands behind St Andrews Church in the
Market Place, and is considered one of the
most authentic and least altered in the county.
Its known as the Parsons Pele, or Vicars
Pele, a place of refuge for the priest on the
many occasions when Corbridge was attacked
by the Scots they burnt the town to the
ground three times in the 14th century.
The finest building in Corbridge is
undoubtedly St Andrews Church. It still
retains many Saxon features, and the base of
the tower was once the west porch of the
Saxon nave. Within the tower wall is a
complete Roman arch, no doubt removed
from the Roman settlement of Corstorpitum
at some time.
The original Roman town, Corstorpitum,
lay half a mile to the northwest and was an
important military installation guarding the
river crossing. Visitors to the site can see the
substantial remains of this strategic fort,
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KATIE KERR
22 Hill Street, Corbridge,
Tel: 01434 632220
e-mail: christine@katiekerr.co.uk
website: www.katiekerr.co.uk
Stylish, eclectic clothes for women are the main
business of Katie Kerr, a partnership between Katie
Oliver and Christine Kerr that opened in October
2007. They bring varied skills to the business:
Christine has more than 30 years experience in the
fashion industry, while Katie, who was a nurse
before having five children, brings a fresh, quirky
approach to the technique of buying. With their deep
knowledge of their stock and a real understanding
and fit and style for all ages, figures and
complexions, they have built a fine reputation for
offering an honest, straightforward and helpful
approach to dressing without pressure selling.
Around 60% of the brands they sell come from
Scandinavia, so inspired design, close attention to
detail and quality fabrics and yarns are what counts
most. Their shop is situated on the ground floor of a
converted terraced cottage in traditional stone,
entered through a traditional vestibule with a
decorative Victorian stained-glass inner door that
inspired the firms logo.
Colour is all-important, so the clothes are
displayed in colour stories enhanced by wonderful
accessories and jewellery, some of them on a round
pedestal table accompanied by a vase of bright
seasonal flowers. With its high ceilings, good lighting
and large decorative mirrors, the whole place has a
welcoming atmosphere enhanced by the staff and
the rich colours of the clothes.
The shop has two fitting rooms with rich red
velvet curtains, one of them accessible to wheelchair
users. Parking is available on Hill Street and theres a
large free car park on the edge of the village, a short
walk from the shop.
Many leading brands from the UK and overseas
are usually in stock, including Masai, Part Two,
Jackpot, Not Your Daughters Jeans, Ochre
Cashmere, Great Plains, Bohemia, Noa Noa, Avoca
Anthology, Saltwater, Seasalt, Sahara, Mint
Jewellery & Accessories and Out of Xile.
In 2010 Katie Kerr will create an interactive
website selling a selection of the merchandise
available in the shop.
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JOYCE ANDERSON
42 Hill Street, Corbridge,
Tel: 01434 632742
e-mail: sales@joyceanderson.co.uk
website: www.joyceanderson.co.uk
Joyce Andersons shop in Corbridge is an
Alladins cave where you will find a fabulous
collection of jewellery, ladies clothing and
accessories. Quality, choice and value are the
three things that set this shop apart and make
your visit a must.
There is something for every taste, outfit and budget in the wide choice of jewellery, which
comprises: PANDORA, Troll beads and Spinning rings; pearls, silver and semi-precious stones and a
great selection of antique and second hand jewellery. The clothes include beautifully cut French
separates from Antonelle and Weill, knitted denim from Original Blues, knitted cotton separates
from Claire which can be made to measure and silk from Thailand, all very stylish, a little bit
different and very wearable.
The majority of pearl and semi-precious jewellery is made to Joyces specifications in Asia.
Buying direct from the Far East means that Joyces prices are very competitive and very tempting.
The same is true for the accessories, pashminas for all year round, evening bags, and for the
winter fur tippets, scarves, halos and cuffs. All great value as well as being beautiful.
BROCKSBUSHES FARM SHOP & TEA ROOM
Corbridge, Northumberland NE43 7UB
Tel: 01434 633100 Fax: 01434 632965
e-mail: acd@brocksbushes.co.uk
website: www.brocksbushes.co.uk
Conveniently located alongside the main A69 Newcastle to Carlisle road,
Brocksbushes Farm Shop & Tea Room opened some 20 years ago and
just goes from strength to strength. To begin with, it was just a small
shop that opened for the fruit season, selling produce from the
surrounding farmland. Today, it is open every day of the year, including
Bank Holidays, selling a huge variety of fresh fruit, vegetables and a
range of ready dishes prepared in the farms kitchen. Amongst these you
will find cakes, pastries, cooked hams and a selection of frozen meals.
The shop also stocks jams, chutneys, sauces, cheeses,
freshly baked bread and much, much more: ducks, seasonal
game, smoked mussels, Italian Parma ham and salamis,
chocolate Tiffin and drizzle cakes. During the season you can
pick your own soft fruit or the asparagus for which the farm
has become famous. Also on site is a coffee shop selling a
wide range of delicious cakes, scones, quiches and savoury
pies. All of these are made using fresh ingredients from the
farm or from local suppliers. Light meals, sandwiches, jacket
potatoes, afternoon teas and daily specials all add to the choice. In summer, you can enjoy your
refreshments outside. Keep your eyes open for our amazing special events throughout the year
including The Strawberry Fayre and The Christmas Fayre.
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Chesters Roman Fort,
which include a fine example of military
granaries and two fortified medieval
towers that provide evidence of more
troubled times.
Running through the centre of the town is
Dere Street, the Roman road built to link the
important garrisons of York and Edinburgh. In
medieval times the bridge was still bringing
money into the town tax returns of 1296
show that this little community was the second
wealthiest town in Northumberland after
Newcastle. The present bridge, with its seven
graceful arches, was built back in 1674 and very
well built, too. It was the only Tyne bridge to
survive the terrible floods of 1771 when the
water was running so high that people could
lean over the parapet and wash their hands.
In spring, Corbridge is the site of the
Northumberland County Show, held each year
on the late May Bank Holiday Monday.
AYDON
4 miles E of Hexham off the B6321
A Castle
Aydon Castle is a superb example of a
fortified manor house, such protection being
necessary in this region in times past to keep
the reivers at bay. Built by Robert de Reymes
in the late 13th century, it remains remarkably
intact, and is often described as one of the
best-preserved fortified manor houses in
Britain, thanks to its early owners and now to
English Heritage.
CHOLLERFORD
3 miles N of Hexham on the B6318
C Chesters B Clayton Museum
The Roman cavalry fort of Chesters, or
Cilurnum, to give it its Roman name, is
situated in the parkland created by Nathaniel
Clayton around the mansion he had built in
1771. The fort covers nearly six acres and was
large enough to accommodate a full cavalry
regiment. The Clayton Museum houses a
remarkable collection of altars, sculptures and
other Roman antiquities. Remains of the
Roman fort include a well-preserved
bathhouse and barracks. Near the bathhouse
can be seen the foundations of a Roman
bridge that carried a road across the Tyne.
CHOLLERTON
6 miles N of Hexham on the A6079
A Chipchase Castle C Battle of Heavenfield
Chollerton, six miles north of Hexham, enjoys
an exceptionally fine setting. Nearby is the site
of the Battle of Heavenfield, where King
(later St) Oswald defeated the army of
Cadwalla, a Welsh king. Four miles northwest
of the village is Chipchase Castle, a
combination of 14th-century tower, Jacobean
mansion and Georgian interior. A walled
nursery garden is open to the public
throughout the summer months, but the castle
itself is only open on June afternoons.
BARRASFORD
7 miles N of Hexham off the A6079
A Haughton Castle
Barrasford sits on the North Tyne, across
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from Haughton Castle, of which there are
fine views. The castle is one of the finest great
houses in Northumberland, and dates
originally from the 13th century. Over the
succeeding years, additions and alterations
have been made, with the west wing being
designed by Anthony Salvin and built in 1876.
The castle isnt open to the public.
LANGLEY
6 miles W of Hexham on the B6295
A Castle
Langley Castle, now a hotel and restaurant,
was built around 1350. In 1450, Henry IV had
it destroyed, but it was restored in the 1890s
by a local historian, Cadwallader Bates. In the
17th and early 18th centuries, the castle was
owned by the Earls of Derwentwater. In 1716,
the third earl, James, was beheaded in London
for his part in the 1715 Jacobite rebellion; his
brother Charles was later beheaded for his part
in the 1745 uprising. A memorial to them both
sits beside the A686 not far from the castle.
BARDON MILL
10 miles W of Hexham on the A69
C Hadrians Wall C Roman Forts C Once Brewed
Bardon Mill, a former mining village, stands
on the north bank of the South Tyne. An
important drovers road crossed the river here
and cattle were fitted with iron shoes at
Bardon Mill to help them on their way to
southern markets. The village is a convenient
starting point for walks along Hadrians Wall
TWICE BREWED
- A variety of accommodation close to Hadrians
Wall in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK. Bardon Mill stands on
the A69 between Hexham/Corbridge and Haltwhistle
TWICE BREWED INN
Military Road (B6318) Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 7AN
Tel: 01434 344534 e-mail: info@twicebrewedinn.co.uk
website: www.twicebrewedinn.co.uk
A comfortable inn set in breathtaking scenery in the shadow of Steel Rigg,
one of the most dramatic parts of the Wall.
VALLUM LODGE GUEST HOUSE
Twice Brewed, Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland NE47 7AN
Tel: 01434 344248 e-mail: stay@vallum-lodge.co.uk website: www.vallum-lodge.co.uk
Comfortable, quality cottage-style accommodation. A great place to relax
after a days sightseeing.
GIBBS HILL FARM
Once Brewed, Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland NE47 7AP
Tel: 01434 344030 e-mail: val@gibbshillfarm.co.uk
website: www.gibbshillfarm.co.uk
B&B, self-catering and bunkhouse accommodation on a traditional working
hill farm.
SAUGHY RIGG FARM
Twice Brewed, Haltwhistle, Northumberland NE49 9PT
Tel/Fax: 01424 344120 e-mail: info@saughyrigg.co.uk website: saughyrigg.co.uk
Half a mile north of the Wall. An ideal base for a walking holiday on the
Hadrians Wall National Trail. Bar and restaurant.
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and the Roman forts of
Vindolanda and
Housesteads are nearby.
At Vindolanda excavations
reveal fascinating insights
into Roman life. An open-
air museum features a
reconstructed temple,
shop and house. Perched
high on a ridge, with
splendid views of the
surrounding countryside,
the remains of
Housesteads Fort covers
over five acres and is one
of the finest sections of Hadrians Wall.
Nearby, Once Brewed is the main Visitor
Centre for Hadrians Wall and the
Northumberland National Park.
Between Bardon Mill and Haydon Bridge
lies the confluence of the South Tyne and the
River Allen, which, like the Tyne, comes from
two main tributaries the East Allen and West
Allen. The valleys of the East and West Allen
really are hidden jewels. The 22,667 acres of
Allen Banks, as the lower part of the valley
near the Tyne is known, is a deep, wooded,
limestone valley, rich in natural beauty, now
owned by the National Trust.
HALTWHISTLE
15 miles W of Hexham on the A69
A Holy Cross Church E J Walltown Quarry
The town lies close to the best preserved
stretch of Hadrians Wall, which here follows
the dramatic line of the Whin Sill ridge and
provides some breathtaking views across
five counties.
The origins of the name Haltwhistle are
unknown, but two suggestions are the watch,
wessel, on the high, alt, mound, or the
high, haut, fork of two streams, twysell. It
is difficult to imagine that this pleasant little
market town with its grey terraces was once a
mining area, but evidence of the local
industries remain. An old pele tower is
incorporated into the Centre of Britain Hotel
in the town centre. Holy Cross Church,
behind the Market Place, dates back to the
13th century and is said to be on the site of
an earlier church founded by William the
Lion, King of Scotland, in 1178, when this
area formed part of Scotland. The name of
the town sounds like a charming little old
railway station, and indeed it does have a
station, on the Coast to Coast Newcastle-
Carlisle service. Between 1852 and 1976 it
also ran a service south to Alston, and in
1983 a two-mile section of that line was
reopened between Kirkhaugh and Alston. The
South Tynedale Railway is the North of
Englands highest narrow-gauge railway.
Three miles northwest of Haltwhistle, off
the B6318, is Walltown Quarry, a recreation
area built on the site of an old quarry. Today
part of the Northumberland National Park,
there are laid-out trails and it is possible to
Church of the Holy Cross, Haltwhistle
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THE BLACK BULL
Market Square, Haltwhistle,
Northumberland NE49 0BL
Tel: 01434 320463
e-mail: kev.ellis@btinternet.com
As facilities and transport improve year by year, an
ever-growing number of visitors come from near and
far to explore the World Heritage site of Hadrians
Wall. The little town of Haltwhistle is close to one of
the best-preserved stretches of the Wall, and at the
heart of the community, down a cobbled street off
the Market Square, stands the Black Bull, the towns
only cask ale pub. Visitors to this delightful old
hostelry are ensured of a warm welcome from Kevin
Ellis, who with his wife Barbara has restored and
enhanced the traditional pub ambience. The bar is
cosy, warm and inviting, with plenty of chairs and
tables, an open fire, beams, brasses and old
photographs and local memorabilia.
The pub is a magnet for lovers of cask ales, with six
regularly changing brews kept in tip-top condition. A
typical selection might include Wychwoods Hobgoblin,
Marstons Sweet Chariot, Deuchars IPA, Caledonian
Old Sea Dog, something from Jennings of
Cockermouth and always a beer from one of the big
southern breweries perhaps London Pride or Old
Speckled hen. The Black Bull is also a place to seek out
for its food, satisfying the appetites of the regulars and
of visitors from afar who discover just how good
traditional home cooking can be. Among the popular
dishes on the wide-ranging menu are starters like
prawns Marie Rose and home-made chicken liver pt,
and mains dishes such as Cumberland sausage with
onion gravy, chilli con carne, fish & chips, extra-meaty
beef and pork burgers, succulent steaks and steak n
ale open pie with a rich beer gravy. The choice is
supplemented by daily specials, some of which feature
produce from the local fish and game merchant.
Sweets are equally traditional and equally hard to
resist. For lighter appetites, a selection of made-to-
order sandwiches with hot and cold fillings is available.
Attractions in and around Haltwhistle include the 13th
century Holy Cross Church literally right behind the
pub, which also has 13th century foundations,
suggesting that it might have been built to house the
servants of the church or its builders; and Walltown
Quarry, a recreation site with laid-out trails and a wealth of birdlife.
The name of Haltwhistle literally means a meeting of streams by the hill but suggests an old-
time railway station though Haltwhistle does indeed have a station, serving the east-west
Newcastle-Carlisle line and the narrow-gauge South Tynedale Railway running south to Alston.
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spot oystercatchers, curlews, sandpipers and
lapwings.
ALLENDALE
10 miles SW of Hexham on the B6295
Allendale Town lies on the River East Allen,
set against a backdrop of heather-clad
moorland, and was once an important centre
of the north Pennine lead-mining industry. It
retains attractive houses from prosperous
times and a surprisingly large number of
existing or former inns around the Market
Square. A sundial in the churchyard records
the fact that the village lies exactly at the mid-
point between Beachy Head in Sussex and
Cape Wrath in Scotland, making it the very
centre of Britain.
ALLENHEADS
12 miles SW of Hexham on the B6295
Allenheads also has lead-mining connections,
with its scatter of stone miners cottages and
an irregular village square with pub and
chapel in a lovely setting. The village is a
centre for fine, upland rambles through the
surrounding hills, which still retain many
signs of the former industrial activity. From
here the main road climbs over Burtree Fell
into Weardale, with wild moorland roads
branching across to Rookhope
to the east and Nenthead to the
west.
BLANCHLAND
9 miles S of Hexham on the
B6306
A small, serene estate village on
the Northumberland and
Durham border. This is another
of the areas hidden places, and
one well worth seeking out. The
name Blanchland (white land)
comes from the white habits worn by the
canons of the Premonstratensian Order who
founded Blanchland Abbey in 1665. The
abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1537. In
1702, Lord Crewe, the Bishop of Durham,
bought the Blanchland estate. On his death in
1721, the estates were left to the Lord Crewe
Trustees who were responsible for building
the picturesque village of Blanchland that you
see today, using stone from the ruined Abbey
buildings. Small cottages snuggle round a
village square opposite the popular Lord
Crewe Arms, housed in the west range of the
priory next to the ancient abbey church of St
Mary the Virgin.
SLALEY
4 miles SE of Hexham, off the B6306
Slaley is a quiet village consisting of one long
street with some picturesque houses dating
from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. One
of the finest houses Church View stands
opposite the 19th-century St Marys Church.
Two miles southwest, Slayley Hall has some
interesting gardens and is now a first-class
hotel with a famous 18-hole golf course,
home to the De Vere Northumberland Seniors
Classic, part of the PGA Seniors European
Walltown Quarry, Haltwhistle
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Tour. Visitors welcome, with two-day golf
breaks available.
Otterburn
A Mill C Battle Site C Roman Sites
The village of Otterburn stands close to the
centre of the National Park, in the broad
valley of the River Rede. It makes an
ideal base for exploring the
surrounding countryside, an
exhilarating area of open moorland
and rounded hills. It was close to
here, on a site marked by the 18th-
century Percy Cross, that the Battle
of Otterburn took place in 1388
between the English and the Scots.
But it wasnt a full-scale battle as
such and it might have remained
relatively obscure if it were not for
the number of ballads it spawned from the
English Chevy Chase to the Scottish Battle of
Otterbourne. By all accounts it was a ferocious
encounter, even by the standards of the day,
and one commentator said that it was one of
the sorest and best fought, without cowards or
faint hearts.
In 1388, under the command of Earl
RYE HILL FARM
Slaley, nr Hexham,
Northumberland NE47 0AH
Tel: 01434 673259
e-mail: info@ryehillfarm.co.uk
website: www.ryehillfarm.co.uk
Rye Hill Farm B&B is a 300 year old
Northumberland stone farm house set in 30 acres
of rural farmland. It is in a great location for
those wanting to explore the area. Located in
rural Tynedale there are some great castles,
coastline and moors to explore as well as Kielder
Forest, Hadrians Wall and the historic city of
Durham all within an hours drive of the farm.
Visitors to Rye Hill Farm have the unique
opportunity to see how life on a small farm works. There are some fantastic walks to be had, with
a network of footpaths providing ready access to the countryside.
The child and pet friendly B&B has 3 double en-suite bedrooms and 1 family/twin ensuite
bedroom,there is also a lounge, dining room and out door games barn for every one to use. All the
centerally heated bed rooms have TVs and beverage making facilities. The B&B offers a full English
breakfast and the option of a bookable evening meal which can be enjoyed in the dining room with
its open log fire on chilly evenings. There is also a self catering cottage for 7 people with 3
bedrooms ensuite (1 of which has good wheelchair access ) open living areas and a sunny patio.
Woolaw Fortified Farmstead, Otterburn
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Douglas, a gathering of Scottish troops at
Jedburgh had resolved to enter England in a
two-pronged attack one towards Carlisle and
one down into Redesdale. In charge of the
Redesdale contingent was the Earl of Douglas,
who got as far as Durham before being forced
back to the border by Henry Percy, better
known as Hotspur, and his brother Ralph.
In August, the English caught up with the
Scottish army at Otterburn and went straight
into attack. The battle continued for many
hours, gradually descending into a series of
hand-to-hand fights between individual
soldiers. Gradually the Scots got the upper
hand and captured both Percys. But it was a
hollow victory, as the Earl of Douglas was
killed. A second force under the Bishop of
Durham hurried north when it heard the
news, but it wisely decided not to engage in
battle. A series of markers known as Golden
Pots are said to mark the journey of Douglass
body when it was taken back to Melrose.
Otterburn Mill dates from the 18th
century, though a mill is thought to have
stood on the site from at least the 15th
century. Although production of woollens
ceased in 1976, the mill is still open, and on
display are Europes only original working
tenterhooks where newly woven cloth was
stretched and dried hence the expression,
being on tenterhooks.
There are some interesting walks round
Otterburn, and some well preserved remains
of an Iron Age fort can be seen on both
Fawdon Hill and Camp Hill.
North of the village are the remains of
Bremenium Roman Fort. It was first built
by Julius Agricola in the 1st century, though
what the visitor sees now is mainly from the
3rd century. In its day the fort could hold up
to 1,000 men, and was one of the defenses
along the Roman road now known as Dere
Street. Close by is the Brigantium
Archaeological Reconstruction Centre,
where you can see a stone circle of 4000BC,
Iron Age defences, cup-and-ring carvings and
a section of Roman road.
Around Otterburn
ELSDON
3 miles E of Otterburn on the B6341
A St Cuthberts Church F Winters Gibbet
A Elsdon Tower
The village of Elsdon is of great historical
importance. Built around a wide green, with St
Cuthberts Church in the middle, it was the
medieval capital of Redesdale the most
lawless place in Northumberland, and scene
Elsdon Tower
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of some of the worst border fighting. In later
years it became an important stopping point
on the drovers road.
In the late 19th century, when the church
was being restored, over 1,000 skulls were
uncovered. They are thought to be those of
soldiers killed at the Battle of Otterburn.
Elsdon Tower, which in 1415 was referred
to as the vicars pele, dates from the 1300s,
though it was largely rebuilt at a later date. Now
a private residence, it remains one of the most
important pele towers in the region.
Standing in the wild moorlands around
Elsdon, above the tiny hamlet of Steng
Cross, is the macabre sight of Winters
Gibbet, with a wooden replica of a severed
head dangling from the gibbet arm. It
provides a grisly reminder of the fate of
William Winter who, in 1791, was tried and
found guilty of the murder of a local
shopkeeper, Margaret Crozier. After his
execution in Newcastle, Winter was brought
to this spot, where his rotting corpse was left
hanging for several months.
HEPPLE
A Hepple Tower
Hepple has a reminder of the difficulty of life
near the borders in the form of Hepple
Tower, a 14th-century pele tower built so
strongly that attempts to demolish it and use
the stone for a new farmhouse had to be
abandoned. West of the village, on the moors,
are some fine examples of fortified houses
and farms.
ROTHBURY
A Cragside C Simonside
C Lordenshaws J Rothbury Terraces
The attractive town of Rothbury is a natural
focal point from which to explore the valley
of the River Coquet. It is an excellent starting
point for some delightful walks, either along
the valley or through the nearby woodland.
The most famous perhaps being the trail to
the Rothbury Terraces, a series of parallel
tracks along the hillside above the town.
Simonside, a hill offering a fine viewpoint, is
steeped in history and the subject of several
legends. Flint arrowheads have been recovered
here, as well as bronze swords, shards of
pottery, axe heads and ornaments. Burial cairns
abound, as do carved stones and ancient paths.
The Northumberland National Park has
prepared a leaflet, which guides you on a walk
up and onto the hill.
To the north of Simonside is Lordenshaws,
with a well-defined hill fort, Bronze Age burial
mounds, rock carvings and cairns.
From the 18th century, the village
developed into a natural marketplace for
Upper Coquetdale, to which cattle and sheep
were brought for sale, and the drovers were
provided with numerous alehouses. Since the
mid-1800s Rothbury has been a holiday
resort for walkers and fishermen, and the
railway, which opened in 1870, contributed
further to its growth. The former Saxon
parish church was almost entirely rebuilt in
1850 and it is worth visiting the interior to
Winters Gibbet, nr Elsdon
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see the font that stands on part of the 9th-
century Rothbury cross.
Just outside Rothbury is the house and
estate of Cragside (see panel opposite), once
the home of Sir William George Armstrong
(1810-1900), arms manufacturer and
industrialist. He bought 14,000 acres in the
valley of the Debden Burn, and employed
architect Norman Shaw to extend the
existing house and make it suitable to
entertain royalty and other wealthy guests.
Work began in 1864, and what finally
emerged in 1884 was a mock-Tudor
Victorian mansion. A pioneer of the turbine,
Armstrong designed various pieces of
apparatus for the house, and devised his own
hydroelectric systems, with man-made lakes,
streams and miles of underground piping,
making Cragside the first house in the world
to be lit by hydroelectricity. Now owned by
the National Trust, the house has been
sympathetically restored to show how upper-
middle-class Victorians were beginning to
combine comfort, opulence and all the latest
technology in their homes.
WELDON BRIDGE
15 miles E of Otterburn on the A697
A Brinkburn Priory
Weldon Bridge is an exceptionally elegant
bridge across the River Coquet, dating from
1744. Although it no longer carries the main
ELM TREE COFFEE SHOP
High Street, Rothbury, Northumberland NE65 7TE
Tel: 01669 621337
Helen Renton and her family have built up a fine
reputation for quality and value for money in their ten
years at the Elm Tree Coffee Shop. In this Victorian
town house looking down the main street from its
elevated site, two rooms create a delightful, unfussy
ambience in which to enjoy good honest home
cooking. Counter service provides excellent teas,
coffees and hot and cold drinks to accompany
scones, cakes, filled rolls, toasted sandwiches, jacket
potatoes and daily specials.
The Renton family and their staff are notably
friendly, willing and helpful, ensuring that every visit
here is a real pleasure. The Elm Tree is open from 10
oclock to 5 (to 4 off season) seven days a week.
The town of Rothbury needs plenty of time to
explore, and one of the many attractions close to the
Elm Tree is the National Trusts Cragside, a fine
mock-Tudor Victorian mansion that was once the
home of the industrialist Sir William Armstrong.
Brinkburn Priory, Weldon Bridge
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road it remains an impressive feature.
Nearby is Brinkburn Priory, standing in
secluded woodland on the banks of the river.
It was established in about 1135 by William
de Bertram, 1st Baron Mitford, and is
thought to have been built by the same
masons who constructed nearby
Longframlington church. It is in a beautiful
setting surrounded by ancient trees and
rhododendrons, and was once painted by
Turner as a romantic ruin. Its church was
restored in 1859 by Thomas Austin on behalf
of the Cadogan family, and has many fine
architectural features. It is also the setting for
famous annual summer concerts.
BELLINGHAM AND WARK
7 miles SW of Otterburn on the B6320
A St Cuthberts Church
The North Tyne is fed by the Kielder Water
which, on its way down to join the South
Tyne above Hexham, passes by the
interesting villages of Bellingham and Wark.
Bellingham (pronounced Bellin-jam) is a
small market town in a moorland setting, with
a broad main street, marketplace and the
austere little St Cuthberts Church, reflecting
the constant troubles of the area in medieval
times. To prevent marauding Scots from
burning it down, a massive stone roof was
added in the early 17th century.
Cragside House, Gardens & Estate
Rothbury, Morpeth,
Northumberland NE65 7PX
Tel: 01669 620333/620150
e-mail: cragside@nationaltrust.org.uk
website:www.nationaltrust.org.uk
The revolutionary home of Lord
Armstrong, Victorian inventor and
landscape genius, was a wonder of its
age. Built on a rocky crag high above the
Debdon Burn, Cragside is crammed
with ingenious gadgets and was the
first house in the world lit by
hydroelectricity.
Even the variety and scale of
Cragsides gardens are incredible.
Surrounding the house on all sides is
one of the largest hand-made rock
gardens in Europe. In the Pinetum
below, Englands tallest Douglas Fir
soars above other woodland giants.
Across the valley, the Orchard House
still produces many varieties of fresh
fruit. Today, Armstrongs amazing
creation can be explored on foot or by car and provides one of the last shelters for the
endangered red squirrel. The lakeside walks, adventure play area and labyrinth.
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In the churchyard an oddly-shaped
tombstone, somewhat reminiscent of a
peddlers pack, is associated with a foiled
robbery attempt that took place in 1723. A
peddler arrived at Lee Hall, a mansion once
situated between Bellingham and Wark, and
asked if he could be put up for the night. As
her master was away at the time the maid
refused, but said that he could leave his heavy
pack at the Hall and collect it the next day.
Imagine her consternation when some time
later the pack began to move. Hearing her
screams for help, a servant rushed to the scene
and fired his gun at the moving bundle. When
blood poured out and the body of an armed
man was discovered inside, the servants
realised that this had been a clever attempt to
burgle the Hall. They sounded a horn, which
they found inside the pack next to the body,
and when the robbers accomplices came
running in response to the prearranged signal,
they were speedily dealt with.
Wark, to the south of Bellingham, is an
attractive estate village, once part of the
lordship of Wark. The Scottish kings are said
to have held court here in the 12th century.
On the slopes overlooking the North Tyne,
are a large number of unusually named
prehistoric settlements, such as Male Knock
Camp, Good Wife Camp, Nigh Folds Camp,
Carryhouse Camp and Shieldence Camp.
KIELDER
16 miles W of Otterburn off the B6320
A Castle E Kielder Forest I J Kielder Water
Kielder village was built in the 1950s to house
workers employed in the man-made Kielder
Forest, which covers 200 square miles to the
west of the Northumberland National Park.
THE BAY HORSE INN
West Woodburn, Hexham, Northumberland NE48 2RX
Tel: 01434 270218
e-mail: enquiry@bayhorseinn.org
website: www.bayhorseinn.org
The Bay Horse Inn is a distinguished 18th century
coaching inn of mellowed sandstone, standing next to an
old stone bridge over the River Rede in the Cheviot Hills of
Northumberland. On the main A68 Darlington-Edinburgh
road, its a perfect spot to take a break, to eat, drink and
relax in warm, friendly surroundings. Its also very much a destination place, with a genuine
welcome for all the family and a wide choice of range and drinking options.
The menus offer anything from a quick snack to a full meal to enjoy in the bar, in the smart
restaurant or outside in the garden. Local produce features strongly, including Northumberland lamb
and fish and shellfish from the nearby coastal waters. Children have their own menu, or small
portions are available from the main menu. To accompany the food theres a good choice of real
ales, beers, lagers, wines and soft drinks.
The inn can cater for barbecues, parties, weddings and other special occasions. Its also a great
place to spend a few days and an excellent base for discovering the numerous scenic, historic and
sporting attractions in the vicinity. Five of the seven individually designed bedrooms have en suite
facilities, while the other two share a bathroom, making them an ideal choice for families. The inn
can arrange a number of outdoor activities, or guests can just relax and unwind the gardens
running down to the river have a grassed play area and tables and chairs for enjoying sunny days.
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Here at Kielder Forest youll find one of the
few areas in Britain that is home to more red
squirrels than grey, thanks to careful forest
planning that ensures a constant supply of
conifer, which is preferred by red squirrels.
Otters too are resident here, and the area
abounds with deer and rare birds and plants.
Theres some excellent walking to be had,
with several marked trails and routes to suit
all abilities, from a leisurely stroll to an
energetic climb, with maps and leaflets to
guide you round. There are also cycle routes,
including the 17-mile Kielder Water Cycle
Route, and bicycles can be hired from the
local visitors centre.
Within the forest is Kielder Water. Opened
by the Queen in 1982, it is the largest man-
made lake in Northern Europe with over 27
miles of shoreline. The visitor can take a
pleasure cruise aboard the Osprey, an 80-seat
passenger cruiser that stops at several points
of interest along the lake.
Located at sites around the lake and within
the forest is an art and sculpture trail art and
architecture inspired by the surroundings.
Dont miss the Kielder Skyspace a chamber
through which artist James Turrell manipulates
interior and exterior light to spectacular effect.
To the northwest is Kielder Castle, at one
time a hunting lodge for the Duke
of Northumberland, and later offices for the
Forestry Commission. It is now a fascinating
visitor centre with exhibits describing the
development of the forest and the birdlife that
is found in Kielder.
Wooler
C Humbledon Hill J Walks
Wooler stands on the A697 on the northern
edge of the Cheviots, midway between
Newcastle and Edinburgh, and is an excellent
centre for exploring both the Cheviots and the
border country. In the 18th and early 19th
centuries it became an important halt on the
main north-south coaching route and is now a
small market town where cattle fairs continue
to take place.
There are no outstanding buildings in
Wooler, though the town itself makes a
pleasing whole. There are superb walking
opportunities in the surrounding area - the
Iron Age hill fort immediately west of the
town, Earle Whin and Wooler Common, or
via Harthope on to The Cheviot itself.
Alternatively, the visitor can take a vehicle
into the Harthope Valley with a choice of
walks, easy or strenuous, up and through the
magnificent hillsides of this part of the
Northumberland National Park.
At the top of Humbledon Hill, are the
remains of a hill fort, built about 300BC. The
Kielder Forest
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Battle of Humbledon Hill was fought here in
1402 between the English and the Scots, who
had been on a raiding mission as far south as
Newcastle. Due to the firepower of Welsh
bowmen in the English army, the Scottish
army assembled within the fort was easily
defeated. Human and horse bones have been
uncovered while ploughing the hills northern
slopes, and there is an area still known to this
day as Red Riggs, from the blood that stained
the ground during and after the battle.
Around Wooler
WOOPERTON
8 miles S of Wooler off the A697
C Battle of Hedgeley Moor
Wooperton is close to the site of the Battle
of Hedgeley Moor, which took place in
1464. In truth this was more of a skirmish, in
which the Yorkist Lord Montague defeated
the Lancastrian Sir Ralph Percy, who was
killed. The site is marked by a carved stone
called the Percy Cross and can be reached
along a short footpath leading from the A697.
KIRKNEWTON
6 miles W of Wooler on the B6351
A St Gregorys Church
C Yeavering and Yeavering Bell
Kirknewton is a typical border village made up
of cottages, a school and village church. St
Gregorys Church dates mainly from the 19th
century, though there are medieval fragments
such as an unusual sculpture, which shows the
Magi wearing kilts a fascinating example of
medieval artists presenting the Christian story
in ways their audience could understand.
Josephine Butler, the great Victorian social
THE TANKERVILLE ARMS HOTEL
22 Cottage Road, Wooler,
Northumberland NE71 6AD
Tel: 01668 281581 Fax: 01668 281387
website: www.tankervillehotel.co.uk
The 3 star Tankerville Arms Hotel is a fine 17th century coaching inn situated in the little town of
Wooler. For the last 30 years of its 400-year history, it has been owned and run by the Park family.
Anne and her staff take great pride in providing the best in service, hospitality and comfort, making
sure that guests go away with happy memories and the hope of a return visit. The 16 guest
bedrooms are delightfully appointed and immaculately decorated (no two are exactly the same).
The food served here is second to none, a reputation maintained in fine style by chef Ashley and
his wife. They use the very best local produce for their tempting menus, including beef from Glendale
Livestock; lamb from the Till Valley; fish from Amble (or caught by Ashley!) and cheese and ice
cream from the local Doddington Dairies. Meals are served in the elegant Cheviot Room overlooking
the hotels lovely gardens or in the Chillingham Room. And the Copper Bar is a favourite spot to relax
and meet the locals and the other guests over a glass of real ale, local beer or wine.
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Yeavering Bell, Kirknewton
reformer and fighter for womens rights, who
retired to Northumberland and died here in
1906, is buried in the churchyard. Her father
had been a wealthy landowner and a cousin of
British Prime Minister Earl Grey of Howick
Hall near Craster.
Half a mile east of the village, in what are
now fields by the River Glen, lay the royal
township of Gefrin or Ad-Gefrin, better
known as Yeavering. Discovered in 1948
thanks to aerial photography, this was where,
in the 7th century, King Edwin of
Northumbria built a huge wooden palace that
included a royal hall over 100 feet long,
storehouses, stables, chapels and living
quarters. A stone, and a board explaining the
layout, now marks the place where this long-
vanished royal establishment once stood.
If such historical associations
were not enough, on the summit
of a nearby hill known as
Yeavering Bell, there is a
magnificent Iron Age hill fort,
the largest in Northumberland,
enclosed by the remains of a
thick wall and covering 13 acres.
Over 130 hut circles and similar
buildings have been traced on the
summit, which commands
impressive views for miles
around.
BRANXTON
8 miles NW of Wooler off the A697
A St Pauls Church C Battle of Flodden Field
The site of the famous Battle of Flodden
Field can be found near Branxton, marked by a
cross in a cornfield reached by a short path. It
was here that the English army of some 20,000
men under the Earl of Surrey heavily defeated a
much larger Scottish army under the command
of King James IV on 9 September 1513. The
king was killed, and his body lay in St Pauls
Church in Branxton (now rebuilt). An
information board explains the background to
the battle and how it was fought. Written to
commemorate the fallen of Flodden Field, The
Flowers of the Forest is a traditional lament played
by pipers at the annual Remembrance Day
service at the Cenotaph.
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ACCOMMODATION, FOOD AND
DRINK
The Bay Horse Inn, West Woodburn,
Hexham pg 46
The Black Bull, Haltwhistle pg 39
Brocksbushes Farm Shop & Tea Room,
Corbridge pg 35
Elm Tree Coffee Shop, Rothbury pg 44
Gibbs Hill Farm, Once Brewed, Bardon Mill pg 37
Harbour Guest House, Amble pg 20
Loughbrow House B&B, Loughbrow,
Hexham pg 32
Pilgrims Coffee House, Lindisfarne,
Berwick upon Tweed pg 6
Queens Hall Art Centre, Hexham pg 31
Redfoot Lea Bed & Breakfast, Alnwick pg 15
Rye Hill Farm, Slaley, Hexham pg 41
Saughy Rigg Farm, Twice Brewed,
Haltwhistle pg 37
Stannington Nurseries, Stannington,
Morpeth pg 27
The Tankerville Arm Hotel, Wooler pg 48
Twice Brewed, Bardon Mill pg 37
Vallum Lodge, Twice Brewed, Bardon Mill pg 37
Zecca, Amble pg 19
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Celtic Crafts, Lindisfarne,
The Flower Centre, Amble pg 20
FASHIONS
Bell & Sons, Alnwick pg 16
ADVERTISERS AND PLACES OF INTEREST
Edge Lifewear & Edge Country, Hexham pg 32
Joyce Anderson, Corbridge pg 35
Katie Kerr, Corbridge pg 34
GIFTWARE
Blacketts of Bamburgh, Bamburgh pg 11
HOME AND GARDEN
Stannington Nurseries, Stannington,
Morpeth pg 27
JEWELLERY
Joyce Anderson, Corbridge pg 35
PLACES OF INTEREST
Belsay Hall Castle and Gardens, Belsay,
Ponteland pg 28
Cragside House, Gardens & Estate,
Rothbury pg 45
Queens Hall Art Centre, Hexham pg 31
SPECIALIST FOOD AND DRINK
SHOPS
Brocksbushes Farm Shop & Tea Room,
Corbridge pg 35
Gebhards Deli-Farm Shop, Morpeth pg 24
North Acomb Farm Shop, Stocksfield pg 29
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Guide To Rural England - Northumberland

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Guide To Rural England - Northumberland

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